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We’re going to be putting our house on the market probably within the next 4-6 months. There’s a few jobs we need to do before we get the estate agents round which we can sort but the bathroom really needs changing. It all works but it’s old and outdated. It’s the only one in the house (3 bed semi).
I’m reluctant to throw several thousands of pounds at it then move out.
I realise There’s an arguement for putting the bathroom in - it will help sell the house, is there an arguement for ‘accept it needs a bathroom, maybe adjust the price taking that into consideration and let the new buyers do the bathroom to their taste’..
What’s the STW opinion?
At the moment it will probably sell for asking price or more. I wouldn’t bother spending the money
You might struggle to get anyone in before then.
We did fit a bathroom immediately before selling in our last house however; It was booked before we decided to sell. The old one was unusable. If we didn't get the house we offered on we were going to stay put.
Unless the existing bathroom is some 70’s horror colour like sungold or ovocado, or is completely dysfunctional e.g. broken shower or bath, I’d just leave it as the buyers will probably fit something to their taste anyway.
Yeah, we’re waiting for probate on my dad’s place, but it’s sold at over the asking with half a ton of smokers residue on every surface. If it’s a solid house on a decent street it’ll sell. Save your money and effort for the next place.
Are you anywhere near the SDLT thresholds? If so you will spend the money on the new bathroom potentially increasing the sale value but if the new increased value pushes it into the next SDLT you will not get it back
In a slow property market whilst something like a new bathroom may not get you the equivalent increase in value it may help make it sell quicker.
In the current market I wouldn't bother...
As above, I'd leave it. Just give it a proper good once over to make it spotless including redoing sealant as that's quite easy and can make a big difference.
We moved in January and added a new splashback behind the kitchen sink. Sealed the rotting worktop edge and helped make it our own before we gut and extend the kitchen in a couple of years. Was quite cheap too. The splash back that is.
I asked a similar thing on here a few months ago when we were selling ours. Was advised not to bother and confident now it was the right decision. I did some basic bits, grout pen on the tiles, lick of paint etc. That’s as far as I’d go.
I've just sold a rental house on the same street as my mate sold his. His house is much nicer and has two bathrooms. Mine is exactly the same type of house but only the one bathroom and needs modernising.
He sold his first, then we decided to sell as our Tennant moved out. Both went for the same asking price within days of going on the market!
Unless the housing market slows right down, I wouldn't bother doing up your bathroom.
Edit: That's in Leeds btw.
Too many variables. Ask your estate agent, that's what you're paying them for. Are you going to turn a profit?
On the one hand, "bathrooms sell houses," on the other they'll likely rip it out anyway.
Updateing or putting in anything new in a saleable house except basic stuff is a waste of money and time, seen new kitchens put in prior to sale house sold and kitchen thrown out, cooker in wrong place, wrong colour doors etc, same with bathrooms, wrong colour tiles or dont like the shower etc, so re new at a huge cost to new owners.
Spend money on new door handles and light switches and led lamps, all cheap but make a huge difference as they usually look tatty in most houses.
I would just leave it if it was me, as said above if it works it'll be fine. New owners will probably have an idea of what they want the bathroom to look like anyway and it'll be different to the one you put in, same with a kitchen. Different people want different things out of a room.
If everything in bathroom works and is, substantially, undamaged - no.
If it works I wouldn't bother putting in a new one.
The new owners will likely change it anyway.
I wouldn't bother, needing a new bathroom is unlikely to be a deal breaker for anyone these days.....
Also round here the lead time for bathroom installers is about 6 months!
Just been through the selling process. First thing the EA said was 'don't do anything to it'.
As others have said, don't bother. You can always put one in if all the viewings come back with the message that they wouldn't buy a house with a bathroom like that.
EA will always tell you not to do anything, unless it's a minor job that can be done quickly. They don't want to have to wait until work is done to have a go at selling your property. They'd rather try to sell one that needs work, than wait to sell one that (in your eyes, because who knows what the buyer will think) doesn't. Their only thought is making that month's target and the more properties they have on the books, the better chance they have of making it. Also, in the time that you and they are waiting for work to be done, you might change your mind or go with another agent.
midlifecrashes
Yeah, we’re waiting for probate on my dad’s place, but it’s sold at over the asking with half a ton of smokers residue on every surface. If it’s a solid house on a decent street it’ll sell. Save your money and effort for the next place.
Just been through the same with my step fathers/mums place, after my mum died he started smoking in the house and everything just stinks. Estate agents said not to worry as 99% of buyers will be looking to gut it and modernise. 1930's semi with big garden.
Unless you're adding something that will help the sale, i wouldn't, it can raise more issues that starts costing more, i tend to just buy a new suite for any house i'm moving into that has dated ones, it's cheap and can be done quick, tiles, flooring, etc can be done slower time, but most folk want to choose that to put their mark on the house.
Thanks for the replies. Very helpful
For me as a buyer the old bathroom is preferable in that I'd be ripping out someone else's choice of tiles, but....an estate agent told me this...most buyers now are maxed out and have a finite monthly amount they can spend on things, right down to carpets and white goods, this is why spending hundreds of thousands on the house is often not considered but their lawyer phones to negotiate the fridge.
You can't underestimate how little imagination people have, for many an unappealing bathroom is 'I can't live here' changes the whole value of the property from 'ready to live in' to 'in need of work', hence buying a house and repainting it to flip is a thing.
We got quotes for an extension + new kitchen, so quite a bit more expensive.
EA reckoned it wouldn't payback and that was before building materials went silly.
I'd err on the side of buyers knowing what a bathroom costs so if the rest of the house is fairly neutral and buyer friendly I'd not bother as long as it's clean and tidy.
Speak to your estate agent for Area specific advice but its highly unlikely that you will recoup all the cash you sink into a bathroom. If its all functional and not peach or avocado. Clean it and redo any moldy sealant.