House renovations with a view to selling

[Adrian]

I'm about to do shedloads on my house and eventually sell it.

I'm getting new windows, rewired blah blah basically the works.

My question though concerns decorating.

Is a dirt cheap carpet and blank magnolia walls the best option in terms of not spending much and letting people see the "Potential" of the house?

Can we not bother with black and white pictures of terraced housing and suggestions of an inside Loo please.

[KK67]

I'd go for laminate flooring and white walls. Carpet is naff and cheap carpet is even worse.

If you're having it re-wired you might as well get flush fittings.

[Adrian]

I'd go for laminate flooring and white walls. Carpet is naff and cheap carpet is even worse.

If you're having it re-wired you might as well get flush fittings.

Carpets cheaper and easier to take up though isn't it?

[KK67]

Carpets cheaper and easier to take up though isn't it?

Yeah....if the sub-floor is in good nick and sound proofing isn't an issue then the carpet will be cheaper.

If the sub-floor is a nightmare,.....lay laminate on top of the existing carpet.

[BBD]

yep, magnolia on the walls and declutter everywhere several times, especially the kitchen. empty work surfaces are best as they make the place look more spacious
add a few mirrors to increase light and make the rooms appear larger
new carpet, all one colour preferably
dont forget the outside of the house, especially the front as first impressions count, so weed, dig over flower beds, brightly coloured flowers by the door, repaint the door and clean any metalic furnishings on it, spary weed killer on teh path and in a few days scrape the dead ones out from the cracks

Its still a buyers market at the moment and if you want the best price you have to be the best house for the money. Take a look at the property website pictures of competition houses being sold, asking prices mean feck all. Which agent has some Sold boards up and what prices are similar houses getting

[Adrian]

yep, magnolia on the walls and declutter everywhere several times, especially the kitchen. empty work surfaces are best as they make the place look more spacious
add a few mirrors to increase light and make the rooms appear larger
new carpet, all one colour preferably
dont forget the outside of the house, especially the front as first impressions count, so weed, dig over flower beds, brightly coloured flowers by the door, repaint the door and clean any metalic furnishings on it, spary weed killer on teh path and in a few days scrape the dead ones out from the cracks

Its still a buyers market at the moment and if you want the best price you have to be the best house for the money. Take a look at the property website pictures of competition houses being sold, asking prices mean feck all. Which agent has some Sold boards up and what prices are similar houses getting

I have some work to do.

[BBD]

The good news is that the recession will have killed off a load of the cowboy agents. Sadly some of the good ones will also have gone too. But the ones that are left still in business AND selling houses will be the pros and should offer you advice on preparing your house to sell.

[KK67]

The good news is that the recession will have killed off a load of the cowboy agents. Sadly some of the good ones will also have gone too. But the ones that are left still in business AND selling houses will be the pros and should offer you advice on preparing your house to sell.

Or you could stick it in Daltons Weekly/Loot and get cash.

[Freknōttr]

Get a girl in.

[Adrian]

Get a girl in.

Topless? That'd draw the punters I guess

[KK67]

Girls don't understand construction. They're ok for dressing a property.

[hwntw]

Yeah....if the sub-floor is in good nick and sound proofing isn't an issue then the carpet will be cheaper.

If the sub-floor is a nightmare,.....lay laminate on top of the existing carpet.

This has to be the worst bit of advice I've ever heard, the only way this would be a goer is if the buyers have learning difficulties.

[Doorzetbornandbred]

This has to be the worst bit of advice I've ever heard, the only way this would be a goer is if the buyers have learning difficulties.

Cant decide if he's Butch or Sundance.

[KK67]

This has to be the worst bit of advice I've ever heard, the only way this would be a goer is if the buyers have learning difficulties.

Old carpet is a better self-levelling and sound proofing on sub-floor than just about any other material. It's not by the book,...but it's a neat trick.

Some morons will pay for brand new recycled paper board,....some have more sense.

[morepork]

Yeah....if the sub-floor is in good nick and sound proofing isn't an issue then the carpet will be cheaper.

If the sub-floor is a nightmare,.....lay laminate on top of the existing carpet.

Cowboy.

[KK67]

Cowboy.

Laminate only lasts 7/8 years with heavy use. The paper recyc' doesn't last much longer,...and the carpet provides better sound proofing.

[morepork]

Laminate only lasts 7/8 years with heavy use. The paper recyc' doesn't last much longer,...and the carpet provides better sound proofing.

How would your average warranty view flooring directly over carpet?

[KK67]

How would your average warranty view flooring directly over carpet?

As opposed to laminate, on paper, on wood...?

[morepork]

As opposed to laminate, on paper, on wood...?

Carpet has a lot of give. If it has too much, it will give enough to split the overlying flooring. Hard to justify on an insurance claim.

[KK67]

Carpet has a lot of give. If it has too much, it will give enough to split the overlying flooring. Hard to justify on an insurance claim.

Laminate needs give. That's why it's usually laid on the paper board which also has give.

If I was contracted, I'd use the board....and charge for it. But the carpet is better for heat insulation and sound insulation..

[timmyspicyman]

Laminate needs give. That's why it's usually laid on the paper board which also has give.

If I was contracted, I'd use the board....and charge for it. But the carpet is better for heat insulation and sound insulation..

Sounds shonky to me. I would rather buy a house that had cheap ass carpet than cheap ass laminate. Can't stand the stuff. Reall wood or carpet is the only way to fly.

But Hades, alot of what has been said is correct. DON'T go white walls though. It will highlight any undulations in the walls and will only appeal to a certain type of buyer.

If you're having a rewire, then unless the current wiring is all in conduit there is going to be a ffwc of a lot of mess and a lot of chasing out that will need patching. The best way to cover up the chasing lines is to use browning to within about 1mm of the surface of the wall. Let that dry out then use Gyproc Easyfill to finish. Put it on just proud of the wall and sand back. It will give you a perfectly smooth finish and you won't be able to see where the chasing was done.

Paint all of the walls cream. I find that magnolia can be too deep a colour, particularly if you've got an area of the house that doesn't get much light.

You shoud be able to carpet the whole house for not very much. See if you can get a recommendation for a carpet fitter off someone, then source the carpet (and underlay if you want) from them. It will be cheaper than Carpetright.

As said above, declutter and dress all the rooms for purpose. If you've got a dining room that you don't ever use, you need to dress the table as if you're about to have your din dins on it. If you've got a spare room that you only use as a study, see if you can get a bed in there to show people that it can be a bedroom too.

Clean all the woodwork with sugar soap (if it needs it).

Basically when you are selling a house, you are selling an idea. Never underestimate how thick the general population is. When I was an estate agent I had people refusing houses because they didn't like the curtains. You're not buying the ffwckin curtains you daft cwnt, they won't be there!!!

I've also seen people buy a cottage because of the furniture, even though the furniture won't be staying.

Oh, and put the bog seat down when people are looking round. No-one wants to see your skid marks.

[Stom]

Sounds shonky to me. I would rather buy a house that had cheap ass carpet than cheap ass laminate. Can't stand the stuff. Reall wood or carpet is the only way to fly.

But Hades, alot of what has been said is correct. DON'T go white walls though. It will highlight any undulations in the walls and will only appeal to a certain type of buyer.

If you're having a rewire, then unless the current wiring is all in conduit there is going to be a ffwc of a lot of mess and a lot of chasing out that will need patching. The best way to cover up the chasing lines is to use browning to within about 1mm of the surface of the wall. Let that dry out then use Gyproc Easyfill to finish. Put it on just proud of the wall and sand back. It will give you a perfectly smooth finish and you won't be able to see where the chasing was done.

Paint all of the walls cream. I find that magnolia can be too deep a colour, particularly if you've got an area of the house that doesn't get much light.

You shoud be able to carpet the whole house for not very much. See if you can get a recommendation for a carpet fitter off someone, then source the carpet (and underlay if you want) from them. It will be cheaper than Carpetright.

As said above, declutter and dress all the rooms for purpose. If you've got a dining room that you don't ever use, you need to dress the table as if you're about to have your din dins on it. If you've got a spare room that you only use as a study, see if you can get a bed in there to show people that it can be a bedroom too.

Clean all the woodwork with sugar soap (if it needs it).

Basically when you are selling a house, you are selling an idea. Never underestimate how thick the general population is. When I was an estate agent I had people refusing houses because they didn't like the curtains. You're not buying the ffwckin curtains you daft cwnt, they won't be there!!!

I've also seen people buy a cottage because of the furniture, even though the furniture won't be staying.

Oh, and put the bog seat down when people are looking round. No-one wants to see your skid marks.

Aye, the landlady's selling this flat now, as we're moving out today, and people keep coming in and commenting on the sofa! Which is ours :p

[timmyspicyman]

Aye, the landlady's selling this flat now, as we're moving out today, and people keep coming in and commenting on the sofa! Which is ours :p

Being an estate agent was my first insight into just how thick people can be.

I remember one particularly thick bint who was viewing a house priced at about £300k.

"Ohh, no, I couldn't have this house. I really don't like the colour on the walls in the sitting room"

FFFFNNNGGNGGNGNSNSNGNGN.

I almost exploded. You are turning down a £300,000.00 purchase because you don't want to spend an extra £20 to buy a tin of paint. FFS!!!

If you're that tight, just offer the vendors £299,980!! I say that as she was the type of thick twat who thinks you have to buy houses for what the estate agent "values" it at.

[words]

Knock down the outhouse and get a proper indoor toilet fitted.

Give the ferrets to friends for a couple of weeks.

[Adrian]

Knock down the outhouse and get a proper indoor toilet fitted.

Give the ferrets to friends for a couple of weeks.

See the final line of the first post. You uppity rah.

[Handyosprey]

Make it look like a cave ................smear it in sh*t ....................northern people will love it .........and a kebab on the floor .




First to see will buy .

[Spifflicator]

Think twice before you do owt. You might not get yer money back. Why not just flog it as is and have done with it. Most buyers will see through superficial tat anyway.

[BBD]

Think twice before you do owt. You might not get yer money back. Why not just flog it as is and have done with it. Most buyers will see through superficial tat anyway.


sorry, but you couldnt be more wrong. the lack of vision by the general public is truly astonishing

I do agree with your first point, but you dont have to spend a fortune to improve the saleability of the property or add to how much you get for it.

[Adrian]

Think twice before you do owt. You might not get yer money back. Why not just flog it as is and have done with it. Most buyers will see through superficial tat anyway.

It needs rewiring/plastering/windows so my orignal query was what to do decorating-wise once that works been done