Would this be a turn-off or no big deal......

SahmIam · ‎04-16-2010

We've started house hunting. We have requirements and "what would be nice" regarding our purchase. Saw a house today. The bathrooms (except for one) are the original and are no different then the house we own now which was built in 1978. Considering the house we looked at was up there in price, we were quite surprised. They did redo the hall bath (a Jack and Jill bath) but none of the others. The house we looked at was built in 2003, btw.

We get it. To redo a small bathroom in our area runs, on average, $15,000 and up. They didn't want to spend the $50,000 plus on doing the bathrooms. The master bath, however, was dull, old looking, worn out. You can see that it (and the others) are made with builder grade (and cheap at that) material. Surprised and disappointed.

We don't want to have to re-do anything, especially when purchasing a home that in our county would be well over a million dollars. Now we know why the only picture of a bathroom was the hall one. The house is a pass for many reasons, however, it did make me think on the way back:

Would this be a negative for you? Do you have expectations of a house based on its price? Do you go in to purchasing a home that is not a fixer-upper expecting to have to do just that?

Just wondering. : )

Edited to add the year the house we looked at was built.

If

fthunt · ‎12-24-2010

I'd keep looking..........................going in with negative thoughts - never know what you'll find in the floor and walls of an old bathroom.

qualitygal · ‎10-04-2010

Before I got a fixer-upper, I'd redo my own place. Otherwise, I think building is nice for a new start in a new home.

In my world, I'd love to be able to build a log cabin. Maybe in another life (in my dreams).

DiAnne · ‎09-22-2010

The price would not matter to me as much as the neighborhood the house is in. If it was in an area I wanted to live I would probably purchase. Homes that are in coveted areas are just more expensive.

Beauty Maven · ‎03-03-2015

All depends on comps in the area. I can't imagine a seller asking top of the market price when the hourse needs so much work. I would only pay top dollar for a turn-key property. Otherwise, start deducting improvement costs from your offer.

riley1 · ‎03-10-2010

To me, the price of the house should reflect some kind of upgrades. Many years before we sold our house we redid the kitchen and master bath. We did not do the main bath in the hall - tile in the shower was a neutral as were the toilet and sink.

I would keep looking. There might be one with less costly work to do inside. JMO

CAcableGirl2 · ‎06-03-2010

@SahmIam It depends on the price. If the price is low and the upgrades needed would not add so much to the cost that it would be still within my budget, I wouldn't mind. You can always get exactly what you want, since my choice of colors might not be what the previous owner would choose. Plus if you have time to live in your current place while the renovations are being done, that would be the best option.

I would look more for standard maintenance issues that weren't done...that would mean that the house could have major issues since they didn't even take care of the minor issues. Like the curtain rod hanging down, cabinets hanging crooked from damaged hinges, chipped paint everywhere, filthy doors, etc..

And, it must be fairly clean.....there is no way I would buy a filthy mess. I can't even stand to look at the pictures on line if the place is a mess. How does a real estate professional allow on-line pictures of their clients homes show dirty dishes all over the kitchen, dirty clothes on the floor, and ripped screens. Yuck - would have to be super cheap in a great area for me to even consider going in and looking.

......You look like I need a drink.....

SXMGirl · ‎07-07-2010

@SahmIam, keep looking. Most of us are past the point of wanting to do major renovations that we have done in our current homes. The right house is out there for you and you will know it when you see it.

My expectation of price is based on location and amenities. I want a good neighborhood, but a house with renovations better be at a really great price and in the best location where I want to live.

I always wanted to live at the beach and would have settled for just about anything in my price range, but that has changed with all of those storms. Now, I am happy to stay exactly where I am, with the best neighbors in the world.

The next time that I hear salt and ice together, it better be in a margarita!

SahmIam · ‎04-16-2010

Thanks for your replies, everyone.

The house is listed at over $600,000. Everything about it is perfect. If we could have chosen all the colors, the location, the flooring, etc, it would be what this house has. That's why we were thrown by the bathrooms being so...blah and original.

The neighborhood is very nice (golf course community so the lots are large and beautiful- heavily wooded which is a requirement for us), top schools in the county (another requirement for us). It's simply more rural (which is fine) and will not see the kind of development that is occurring where we live now (which is a requirement for us). We simply expect REALLY nice bathrooms (especially in the master bath) for that kind of money especially as it's a newer home. (2003 vs 1970 and older). We are comparing it to similar properties in our county and yes, they would cost 1.2 -2 million for this same house on the acreage. In the end, we're tired of old and tired and if we're going to spend that kind of money on a house, darn it, we want NICE bathrooms and NOT ones we have to then go and re-do ourselves.

Like I said, this isn't the house for us due to that and a few other reasons but it's interesting to hear what makes a house a thumb up or thumb down for purchase for other people.Again, thanks!