What to change when selling old house

8 years ago

I have a house that was being rented out and wasn't being cared for last few years. Few big things that required replacing are old cabinets, cheap counter top (plastic looking thing), old windows (double pane though), linoleum kitchen floor.

So here is my question. Even with these big project (which I am not willing to do to sell the house) does it make sense to change out the small things? small things meaning toilets (oval to elongated ones), old ceiling fans (currently old and gold color), adding cabinet handles, duct covers, and other small misc additions. House has been repainted last year.

These small upgrades would cost about $1,000 to $1,500. I would hate to look like I am polishing a turd which would just cost me money.

Featured Answer

weedyacres

8 years ago

I would fix/replace anything that's broken, but I wouldn't update anything that's in good working order, but just ugly. So I'd install a missing duct cover, but I wouldn't change out a brass ceiling fan or install cabinet knobs.

Do clean it well. Clean and dated will sell much better than skanky and dated.

Comments (8)

lazy_gardens
8 years ago
Clean it thoroughly, make sure nothing leaks or wobbles, and sell it.
cpartist
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
If you're not replacing or painting the cabinets and replacing the countertop, windows etc then just clean it, put some fresh flowers in and call it a fixer upper and drop your price accordingly. Anyone coming in who's interested in it will want to gut it.
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nancylouise5me
8 years ago
Yep, if you don't want to fix any of the big things, doing little things isn't going to make a difference to potential buyers. As stated above, price it as a fixer upper and sell it that way. NancyLouise
nosoccermom
8 years ago
Depends on the price point and potential buyers. In my area, the absolutely cheapest house will be 600K, which will be a total wreck and be bought by a developer who'll tear down the house to build a 1.4 mio house.
Next come the 800K houses. Unless they're surrounded by < 1 mio houses, they will be bought by those looking for starter homes. Meaning that they're stretched to the hilt finance-wise, work a lot (two earner couples), and are looking for move-in ready. For that group, some cosmetic fixes may make sense if they are chosen carefully.

Look at comparable houses and see what they look like.
SaltiDawg
8 years ago
I have to disagree with the thrust of some of the above. Fix those inexpensive things that you can afford. Clean, de-clutter, depersonalize, and clean again. Sure some fresh paint, etc.

Change the toilets because they are round rather than oval. Absurd. Some actually prefer round.
DYH
8 years ago
How much will small changes increase your profit?

A few months ago, I purchased a 1939 house. I wish the previous owners hadn't done anything to it. (Okay, it was good to have the asbestos and lead out of there). They replaced original lights with stuff that I'm taking out, whereas I'm having an electrician fix the originals.

The "newer" stuff, I've ripped out. I'm doing a major renovation and adding a first floor master. I've salvaged the sinks and am installing new faucets. I'm having the tub refinished. I took out the 1950's vinyl and tile and installed subway and penny floor tile. The toilets had been replaced to good Toto, so that was a plus.
texasgal47
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
In Texas property and school taxes are high since there is no state income tax. I would think that those additional costs, if she holds out over time, would nudge the seller to take a $315,000 offer. She would probably pay close to $10,000 in taxes by waiting an additional year or two.

What to change when selling old house

weedyacres

Comments (8)

lazy_gardens

cpartist

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