Would It Be Worthwhile Spending On Sprucing Up A Rundown House Before Putting It On The Market?

[sandyRoe]

As it is potential buyers might see it only as a project. Decorated, with cheap carpets fitted , the garden tídied, and maybe a new bathroom suite, potential buyers might see it as somewhere they could move into and then put their own stamp on it.

[vetuste_ennemi]

Ask a trustworthy estate agent's advice?

[Mamyalynne]

Agree with vetuste , but ask 2 or 3 and get a better idea.

[hc4361]

Or they may wonder what's hiding under the carpets and behind the wallpaper.

Is it in an affluent neighbourhood? Worth getting a valuation as is and ask the estate agents advice.

[sandyRoe]

The houses around here don't stay long on the market. When I've cleared some of the junk out I'll see an estate agent.

[Old_Geezer]

Depends on what you are planning on doing. You don't want it to only interest developers and consequential low offers, but you need to be sure you can get back what you spend which means fixing basic obvious problems and making things neat & clear.

IMO. Carpets, bathroom suit, only if the existing are bad enough to put folk off. General decorating much the same although that can be done cheaper. Garden tidy, probably useful, especially at the front. First impressions and all that.

[Canary42]

I think it might come down to how quickly you want a sale. Buyers seeking a "low-cost development opportunity" may be much thinner on the ground, but the increase in asking price after renovation may barely cover your costs.

I would be interested to hear what the agents say.

[Dogsbody2]

I think it depends on how run down it is, and I agree that asking a local agent is the best bet.

For example if it needs capital expenditure like a new heating system or roof, say, it will automatically fall into the category of a 'project' and there are plenty of people out there looking for such a project who will be completely non-plussed by minor cosmetic changes like redecoration. Such people will do the cosmetics themselves after major refurb work, at far less cost than than a seller of an Executor's property (say) could easily undertake. So there's no point in making the minor changes.

[johnk]

Don't forget if you increase the value of the house you increase the estate agents cut so guess what he/she will advise.