We want to sell our house before the end of the year; should we modernise the walls and furnishings! My husband says "No", as new owners will want to change whatever we do anyway, and they can see the house is clean, tidy and sound. I say "yes" as it will be the woman who makes the final decision. It does have a newish kitchen and new carpet throughout.
kp11,
Feb 7, 9:34am
Luck of the draw whose amongst the buyers really. If I was buying, im with your husband, i'd want to do it up myself. Other people prefer to walk in to it already done so they dont have to. If you can do it up & it helps you get top $$ it might be worth it. Maybe talk to an estate agent & see what the majority of their buyers want!It may already be 'better' than otherhouses around the area.
kaddiew,
Feb 7, 9:38am
This woman wouldn't redecorate a house before sale! :)It won't necessarily add any value, and as hubby says, new owners may paint straight over any colours you choose. Newish kitchen and carpets should suffice. Rearrange the furniture if it needs it, remove anything really dated or cluttered.
lythande1,
Feb 7, 12:46pm
Oh yes, if it's awful. In neutral tones. Sure they might and probably will do their own thing, but buyers want ready to move in without having to. Wanting to is another thing altogether.
thejewellerybox,
Feb 7, 3:13pm
Put up photos to help us decide! I totally redecorated mine, since the real estate agentsaid it needed it.She said often buyers can't imagine spaces the way they will be and often overestimate the cost and effort of doing it.You should aim for the decor of a hotel, pleasant, somewhat bland , very neutral, so people can start to visualise themselves there.Thinkcream/ sandy beige or soft greys. My house sold fast with multiple offers and at a good price.
pskpinks,
Feb 7, 5:44pm
Just repaint ceilings and woodwork. Makes everything look new and fresh and those surfaces are the ones that a buyer wouldn't change no matter what their taste in decor is.
aloha3,
Feb 7, 8:31pm
I would do something. First impressions will sell. Spend the mininium to make it look nice.
stevee6,
Feb 8, 8:11am
If you are looking for a good price, then yes, redecorate. Most people who buy a house don't have the extra to spare to redecorate immediately, so unless they're going to rip it apart and change the layout(which means they won't be paying for a livable place), buyers will be looking for something they can live with, in the short-term at least. Kitchens and bathrooms sell, so as you've updated the kitchen, take a look at the bathroom, through a buyer's eyes. Would you want to buy it!
donnabeth,
Feb 9, 7:37am
The bathroom looks quite nice-not too dated. It has white tiles with fresh wallpaper above. I've decided to give two bedrooms a new coat of pain and new light fittings(please tell me I don;t need an electrician to put in new lights in a 1060s house). I recall how financially stretched we were when we moved into this house with a young family. All the decorations screamed mid '70's and I couldn't afford to make major changes.
I spent the week 'decluttering' and it emphasizes how large the house is. Isn't is strange how we gradually spread our 'stuff' around once the kids are gone! The 'guest' bedroom is gorgeous and it won't cost too much to freshen up the other two.A happy medium I think-rearrange the furniture and pictures, paint two bedrooms and thanks for the idea of painting the white trims-you're right, nobody changes those colours. Not too much work and it will make the rooms look neat and new.
kuaka,
Feb 9, 7:52am
I think it all depends on the luck of the draw in as much as who you get as prospective buyers.We bought our place 6 years ago despite the hideous walls in the main living area (yellow rag-washed in the family room extending through to karitane yellow in the dining/kitchen/office which is all open plan.They hadn't even pulled the fridge out to paint behind, just put the roller in as far as it would reach and our fridge was smaller so it noticed!)We still bought it, and have only just repainted that area as we've been too busy doing other things, but it certainly annoyed me every time I sat down and looked at it.However the house was what we wanted and there aren't any others around like it.If it had been a "normal run of the mill type house" there's no way I would have bought it if a similar one with a more neutral colour scheme had been available at the same price.
We have also painted the main bathroom and laundry but the rest of the house still needs redecorating.
muffycaz,
Feb 9, 7:57am
I would just give it bit of a lick and polish.Wouldnt go spending too many of your dollars because wot u do the new owners will probably change anyway.Clean up the garden and plant a shrub or two and a few plants.If you spend too much money you aint gonna get any extra for it.
kuaka,
Feb 9, 11:38am
And remember you only get one chance to make a good first impression, so make sure the entrance is inviting and clutter free
donnabeth,
Feb 9, 9:45pm
I spent the day decluttering. I have huge pile of old used up stuff, and a pile that my daughter calls'Don't know why I ever bought it'. It's not even worth the effort of listing it. Why did I carefully pack away a king size ugly bedspread with big faded patches, when I replaced it because it was so faded and ugly! Kuaka, rag rolled yellow-that was my dream home about 10 years ago. I soooo wanted it, but it didn't take long to be glad I never got around to it(unlike the ugly bedspread lol).
kuaka,
Feb 10, 7:20am
The worst of the yellow and mustard colour scheme was that it was obviously only recently done, the mustard in particular was in very good condition, unlike the rest of the house, which is a bland neutral sort of "bleh" colour but all needs re-doing as it's been quite knocked around.Because it's so bland I can put up with it a bit longer till I find the energy to re-do it.The small hall-way, and the staircase which is open into the lounge are all the same "bleh" colour so it's going to be a huge job.I better not put it off too long as I'm not getting any younger.
They even put mustard coloured tiles in the bathroom and laundry which is off the family room.Every time I look at them I think "yuck".But it's going to be quite a job to change them, so it's not on my high priority list at the moment.
tehenga288,
Feb 10, 12:28pm
Yes our house had mustard walls in the lounge and hall and bright blue in the kitchen when we bought it 5yrs ago - gave the whole inside a couple of coats of white & was the best money I ever spent.Just sold a few months back for top dollar after a bit of a touch up and some new taps in the bathroom. All up spent about $2000 getting someone to do the garden and bathroom and other bits and pieces - well worth it to get a good sale price.
kuaka,
Feb 10, 9:24pm
I know when we were looking for this place, we looked at one place and every room was painted a different hideous colour.One was canary yellow, there was a mauve one, the bathroom was lime green, the kitchen was red, the dining room orange.The house didn't suit us but even if it had I doubt we would have bought it.I couldn't live with most of the colours.Felt as though I would need to wear sunglasses all the time.
rmd4,
Feb 11, 5:19am
There are good e-books and in the libraries on where best to spend money. The subject iscalled home staging.
donnabeth,
Mar 3, 10:09pm
The Stagers is my favourite TV programme. I love the changes they make, although most of the houses are pretty flash and as for the budget-way out of my league.
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