putting home on the market

When previously selling property I always took down personal photos etc and kept the decor minimal. Most people who buy a house change bathrooms kitchens to their own taste.
Get yourself another estate agent and tell the one who gave you their advice you won’t be requiring their service.

Setting aside economic and wider problems that affect house sales generally - like the effect of recent interest rate rises and economic uncertainty, If a house is not selling then it is over-priced or has a major problem.

Having done a lot of Rightmove surfing recently as we are considering down sizing. We have seen a number of houses that have been on the market for quite sometime and one of the two reasons above has applied in each case.

Major problems do not need to be ones that require major expenditure. We were admiring one house recently and it was only after we had been studying and looking at it online for a week that we realised that the second living room and one of the bedrooms had almost no natural light, just two tiny windows, which for different reasons let in very little light. They were dependent on borrowed light from adjoining rooms. That killed our interest in the property, and probably many other people's.

If the house needs work doing to it, then it should be advertised as ‘with potential’ and the price should reflect this.

Get 3 agents in to give you a valuation and take the average price but go with the one whose professionalism you consider to be the best, you really need to get along with your agent.

Our kitchen and bathroom need renewing, our agent told us not to bother redoing them, best to drop the price. We have lots of plus points which should outweigh the negative ones.

However, these days it’s all down to price, if it’s priced well it will sell.

I’d certainly get another agent’s opinion, if not 2 more

"Alway get three quotes" says DS.

One problem now is that a house can be put on the market at a price which reflects average prices in the area, a prospective buyer may put in an offer for the asking price but the mortgage valuer will not agree the price offered therefore the lender will refuse a mortgage for the full amount.

A lick of paint and a de-clutter is more likely to be sufficient than going for refurbs in my opinion, plus making sure that the bare bones of the place is ok - deal with any issues such as leaks, damp patches, etc. No point spending a fortune unless you can recoup it in the asking ( and final accepting) price.

Some buyers will always want to update the k and b themselves, because whatever you chose, however nice, it would almost certainly not be what they’d choose for themselves.

I’d certainly get another agent’s opinion, if not 2 more. Of course the cost of renovations will need to be factored into the price. Please beware of agents who overvalue in order to get the business- it’ll just take longer to sell and will probably mean reductions along the way.

Do not go to additional expense. Even if you changed the bathroom and kitchen, who is to say what you changed it to would be to the buyers taste? The only time you might consider any kind of change is if, after your property had been on the market for some time, it wasn’t selling. That would be the time to consider either changing the bathroom and kitchen or reducing the asking price slightly to appeal to would be buyers.
If your existing estate agent won’t budge, try a different one and depending upon what they advise, act accordingly.

In any case, it will be advisable to get the views of about 3 different agents anyway, as previous posters have said, before choosing one to market your property.

Obviously.

A buyer can make any offer they want and seller feel free to reject it

IClaudius

£150,000????? To replace a kitchen? What with? Titanium and solid gold? That's nuts! I hope your neighbours gave a suitable reply?

They did. Sad really as they have been unable to sell and have moved out leaving the empty house still for sale.

Estate agents round here suggest buying new carpets if a house is not selling.

No, you are not being unreasonable.

Whoever buys your house will want to do their own thing, which may well be loving your welcoming, cosy fittings.

Ask other estate agents to come and give you a valuation. Work with the one you feel most comfortable with. It's a (hopefully) brief relationship with an EA but it can be quite intense and emotional so you need to be at ease with them.

I hope your sale goes smoothly.

£150,000????? To replace a kitchen? What with? Titanium and solid gold? That's nuts! I hope your neighbours gave a suitable reply?

We are selling DM house just now. It needs completely modernised - windows, kitchen, bathroom, boiler, painted but no point in replacing things as whoever buys it will have their own ideas. Had 3 EA to see and none were rude like that. Went with Mov8 and have been pleased with them so far.

The house next door to us is on the market. Someone made an offer of £150k below the asking price because 'the kitchen needs replacing'.

Our last EA was adamant, touch not a thing - including the, out of fashion but something we loved, pale blue cloakroom suite - as the new owners will want to make it their own. Ask some more agents to come and look at your home mabin, as others have said choose a polite one you can trust and rely on. They will be paid by you and should be working for you, not being rude .

I had three estate agents round recently to value my house. They all made favourable comments. ( they wanted my business). I asked one if them if they would recommend any renovations. He replied,’ no more than maybe a lick of paint, but buyers will want to redo it anyway, so don’t bother. ‘

Get another estate agent. I had three to look round when sold my house. One of them was so enthusiastic about it I knew she would sell it quickly and she did. She also told me not to do anything andtold me about a house she sold where the owner had put in a brand new kitchen which the buyer immediately had taken out.
A good way of finding a succesful agent is to look round your area and see who is selling houses well. The chances are they will have more people who are looking for property

Good advice all round especially from M0nica and no mabon you are not being unreasonable.

Yu should treat estate agents like any other professional person you employ (painter, decorator, plumber) Ask 3 estate agents to come and visit you, and your property put a value on it and discuss how they would market it.

Choose the one you fell most confortable with and treats you with the most courtesy. Forget the Useless Eustace you have seen so far and ask three others in.

Look at Rightmove you will see every possible kind of property from the done up to the nines to the frankly pretty grotty. Price will reflect consition, but being one of a family of house renovators, a house like yours would interest us as it is, far more than if it came with a new kitchen & bathroom.

I think it’s all very well an EA advising about the state of the market, and perhaps highlighting some issues in a property that may hinder or help the sale. Observations made to the EA, to be passed onto the vendor after viewings could reflect those
comments re. the kitchen etc,
However, to be told, in ‘no uncertain terms’, is just plain rude and unnecessary. I’m wondering if the OP has invited 2 or 3 EAs to view and value the property, which is what I would’ve done, before making a decision on which EA to instruct.
It’s certainly true that a lot of people just can’t see beyond the decor which is why viewing show houses is so popular.
As others have said there shouldn’t be a problem, if the house is priced to reflect any necessary work.
However, it really sounds as if the OP should instruct a different agent - remember they work for you, not for the purchaser. You are the dog, not the tail!
Fingers crossed for a sold sign soon.

Agreed. The new owners will rip out the kitchen and bathroom and enjoy doing it. Their mark will make it their home.

My DMiL house is currently on the market. It has a "dated" kitchen and bathroom but is in clean condition with everything working well. It's a good deal better value than the brand new houses down the road. Bigger rooms, larger mature garden but best of all, great position with fabulous views and much cheaper.

Leave things as they are. Viewers will have varying tastes and ideas. You won’t please them all. Good luck !
P.S. Change EA

Every house we have had (13!) We have redone the bathrooms and kitchen to our own taste within a year of buying the house regardless of the condition of them. To be honest we have redone the whole of the houses too, again regardless of condition. Some I have thought we wouldn't need to do anything to them, but no, after living in them I find that someone else's choice is never mine. So, no, don't redo either room, chances are the new owners will change everything once they have moved in.

Is it a seller's market or buyer's market? It makes a huge difference