Estate Agent Valuations - QQ
Discussion
This week I will have completed the renovations on the late Father in Law's bungalow. Only think needed will be the vinyl in the bathrooms and carpet in the remainder of the house.
I have the carpets on order but they may not be fitted before i am due to go for an op which means I won't be able to get estate agents round until back end of March.
Would you invite valuations without carpets or wait until everything looks bob on? Naturally we won't go to market until everything looks ready to move into but we will lose a month of marketing.
Before anyone asks, my wife would prefer me to deal with it. Too emotional about it.
I have the carpets on order but they may not be fitted before i am due to go for an op which means I won't be able to get estate agents round until back end of March.
Would you invite valuations without carpets or wait until everything looks bob on? Naturally we won't go to market until everything looks ready to move into but we will lose a month of marketing.
Before anyone asks, my wife would prefer me to deal with it. Too emotional about it.
One of the best value houses I ever bought was missing a small stud wall/balustrade at the top of the stairs, carpets in several rooms, and two days of painting... it looked like an unfinished project.
Was surprised that I was able to get it for circa 25% less than I'd expected it to be but some buyers are scared of undertaking work and/or might not have had the ready cash to put it right.
By all means get valuations, making it clear that new carpets will be going in, but don't let agents take/publish photos or show people round until its finished.
Was surprised that I was able to get it for circa 25% less than I'd expected it to be but some buyers are scared of undertaking work and/or might not have had the ready cash to put it right.
By all means get valuations, making it clear that new carpets will be going in, but don't let agents take/publish photos or show people round until its finished.
It’s going to make little difference to the valuation; especially if you advise the agent that carpets will be fitted. However, I would not start to market it before they are fitted - the photos will make it look unfinished and many people just have not got the “vision” to see past that. You will always get maximum interest when it first hits the market so it needs to look its best at that point. Updates afterwards will be less impactful as potential buyers may have already dismissed the property by then and are unlikely to review it again.
richhead said:
why would you put new carpets in a house you are selling, most people would change them anyway once bought. i always budget for a new boiler, decorating and carpets when buying a house.
Just a difference of opinion. I always visually enjoy viewing a property with new/fresh carpets, good boiler history and hopefully the paint will do me for a couple of years. It may take a few weeks between selecting your estate agent, who will then put you in touch with their photographer, and the photos actually getting taken.
I would be talking to a few EAs sooner rather than later.
If they can't talk coherently about how it will look and fit on the market with new carpets, they are not very good.
Personally I am usually repelled by places that have been 'toshed up' to sell, but for many people new stuff is attractive.
It's like seeing a car on the forecourt with brand new cheapo tyres, I'd rather buy a car with bald tyres and get something I like/trust.
I would be talking to a few EAs sooner rather than later.
If they can't talk coherently about how it will look and fit on the market with new carpets, they are not very good.
Personally I am usually repelled by places that have been 'toshed up' to sell, but for many people new stuff is attractive.
It's like seeing a car on the forecourt with brand new cheapo tyres, I'd rather buy a car with bald tyres and get something I like/trust.
richhead said:
why would you put new carpets in a house you are selling, most people would change them anyway once bought. i always budget for a new boiler, decorating and carpets when buying a house.
We did when we sold my father in laws place, because the carpets were badly stained.richhead said:
why would you put new carpets in a house you are selling, most people would change them anyway once bought. i always budget for a new boiler, decorating and carpets when buying a house.
Why would you need to replace carpets if a house has been newly renovated and had them fitted fresh?richhead said:
why would you put new carpets in a house you are selling, most people would change them anyway once bought. i always budget for a new boiler, decorating and carpets when buying a house.
It's a bungalow on death row 
richhead said:
why would you put new carpets in a house you are selling, most people would change them anyway once bought. i always budget for a new boiler, decorating and carpets when buying a house.
I did selling my old house. Very cheap carpet put in and I am sure it increased the sale price by more than the cost of the carpet.Most of the old school Agents around here have been taken over and are now staffed by kids who have no idea - for them it would have to be 100% completed
I had my house valued and because I'd bought off market and renovated and extended so they couldn't just do:
Paid £xxx x house inflation = £yyy
They had no idea
I'd suggest you do your own research on prices and what's available before asking them
I had my house valued and because I'd bought off market and renovated and extended so they couldn't just do:
Paid £xxx x house inflation = £yyy
They had no idea
I'd suggest you do your own research on prices and what's available before asking them
People buying bungalows do not want projects, that includes carpets & getting the garden tidied up. Focus on kerb appeal, they'll almost certainly drive by before arranging a viewing.
Many will be widows who won't want to do anything & even if their offspring are close at hand they usually guide mum towards a nice 'nothing to do' property.
My advice as a surveyor & former estate agency owner is to make it look as close to 'as new' as possible to maximise your price remembering that most buyers of these properties are downsizing & paying cash. If you get them to buy with their heart rather than their head, price will not the main influencing factor
Many will be widows who won't want to do anything & even if their offspring are close at hand they usually guide mum towards a nice 'nothing to do' property.
My advice as a surveyor & former estate agency owner is to make it look as close to 'as new' as possible to maximise your price remembering that most buyers of these properties are downsizing & paying cash. If you get them to buy with their heart rather than their head, price will not the main influencing factor
N111BJG said:
People buying bungalows do not want projects, that includes carpets & getting the garden tidied up. Focus on kerb appeal, they'll almost certainly drive by before arranging a viewing.
Many will be widows who won't want to do anything & even if their offspring are close at hand they usually guide mum towards a nice 'nothing to do' property.
My advice as a surveyor & former estate agency owner is to make it look as close to 'as new' as possible to maximise your price remembering that most buyers of these properties are downsizing & paying cash. If you get them to buy with their heart rather than their head, price will not the main influencing factor
Some bungalow buyers are downsizers with loads to spend on the kitchen/carpets/stuff they've always wanted.Many will be widows who won't want to do anything & even if their offspring are close at hand they usually guide mum towards a nice 'nothing to do' property.
My advice as a surveyor & former estate agency owner is to make it look as close to 'as new' as possible to maximise your price remembering that most buyers of these properties are downsizing & paying cash. If you get them to buy with their heart rather than their head, price will not the main influencing factor
OutInTheShed said:
Some bungalow buyers are downsizers with loads to spend on the kitchen/carpets/stuff they've always wanted.
Some are, but generally not those shopping on Death Row which is how the OP aptly described the location of the property in question. There’s at least one in every town, sometimes whole estates of them. richhead said:
why would you put new carpets in a house you are selling, most people would change them anyway once bought. i always budget for a new boiler, decorating and carpets when buying a house.
Quite. Carpets/curtains are the first to be changed. Just a waste to put carpets down with no knowledge of a buyer's taste. Unless they're knackered, in which case I think it's probably sensible.Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff