Should I have made good the walls when selling my house?
Discussion
Finally sold and completed, moved out and I'm now wondering if I should have made the living room walls good.
Basically I'd installed a wall mounted tv and 5.1 surround system with all the cables hidden in the walls. So in moving I've taken the tv and speakers with me but left the ends of the wires poking out of the walls (so they don't fall inside) and the tv base mount is still on the wall, with the HDMIs etc. also hanging out and ready to plug in.
So in theory the new owner can plug their own system straight in. However it now occurs to me that maybe the new owner doesn't want a wall mounted tv and speakers in the same place, and if they don't then they are going to need to replaster and paint things.
Obviously this should have been discussed and agreed beforehand but the buyer never mentioned it and it didn't occur to me that the wall would look a bit of a mess without the tv installed.
Same goes for picture hooks etc.
Do PHers normally fill all the holes and paint when moving out, should I have done?
Basically I'd installed a wall mounted tv and 5.1 surround system with all the cables hidden in the walls. So in moving I've taken the tv and speakers with me but left the ends of the wires poking out of the walls (so they don't fall inside) and the tv base mount is still on the wall, with the HDMIs etc. also hanging out and ready to plug in.
So in theory the new owner can plug their own system straight in. However it now occurs to me that maybe the new owner doesn't want a wall mounted tv and speakers in the same place, and if they don't then they are going to need to replaster and paint things.
Obviously this should have been discussed and agreed beforehand but the buyer never mentioned it and it didn't occur to me that the wall would look a bit of a mess without the tv installed.
Same goes for picture hooks etc.
Do PHers normally fill all the holes and paint when moving out, should I have done?
One house I bought, they removed all the picture hooks and filled the holes and put a splodge of un-faded paint on each.
I then had to buy a load of picture hooks and hammer them in....
These days I would discuss with the buyer or put something on the fixtures/fittings form.
For instance, I have a TV wall mount which wasn't trivial to install on a dry-lined wall.
I'll offer to leave the mount.
They can have the TV for a suitable sum, as it's the right size for the wall recess.
Everything is negotiable between reasonable people.
It's a mistake to assume their is a 'standard' which people will stick to.
If it matters, discuss it and come to an agreement.
I then had to buy a load of picture hooks and hammer them in....
These days I would discuss with the buyer or put something on the fixtures/fittings form.
For instance, I have a TV wall mount which wasn't trivial to install on a dry-lined wall.
I'll offer to leave the mount.
They can have the TV for a suitable sum, as it's the right size for the wall recess.
Everything is negotiable between reasonable people.
It's a mistake to assume their is a 'standard' which people will stick to.
If it matters, discuss it and come to an agreement.
If you read the contract of sale it’s very likely it required you to fill in and make good any fittings you remove. However it’s rarely done and if it is done then it’s usually a bodge job, with some grainy crap DIY filler out of a tube and a splash of old paint which doesn’t match what’s on the wall (due to dirt, fading, tin aging etc).
Most people just accept whatever they find on buying a house, and make do.
Most people just accept whatever they find on buying a house, and make do.
PhilboSE said:
If you read the contract of sale it’s very likely it required you to fill in and make good any fittings you remove. However it’s rarely done and if it is done then it’s usually a bodge job, with some grainy crap DIY filler out of a tube and a splash of old paint which doesn’t match what’s on the wall (due to dirt, fading, tin aging etc).
Most people just accept whatever they find on buying a house, and make do.
He hasn't removed any fittings.Most people just accept whatever they find on buying a house, and make do.
I've always discuss things like that. I've often left a wall-mounted TV in place as I fancy an upgrade in the next place and it gives them a stop gap. Same with the surround speakers; I've often left them on their brackets as it's easier them and I get to upgrade.
Amps, subs and other bits of hardware have always come with me. Amps/receivers never really get outdated. And I've ended with five subs, all of which are in use.
I'll be taking my front and centre speakers this time as they're Monitor Audios and set me back £700. But I'll probably leave the TV as it fits the alcove. Unless they'd rather use one they have/buy a better one.
Amps, subs and other bits of hardware have always come with me. Amps/receivers never really get outdated. And I've ended with five subs, all of which are in use.
I'll be taking my front and centre speakers this time as they're Monitor Audios and set me back £700. But I'll probably leave the TV as it fits the alcove. Unless they'd rather use one they have/buy a better one.
Peterpetrole said:
Finally sold and completed, moved out and I'm now wondering if I should have made the living room walls good.
Basically I'd installed a wall mounted tv and 5.1 surround system with all the cables hidden in the walls. So in moving I've taken the tv and speakers with me but left the ends of the wires poking out of the walls (so they don't fall inside) and the tv base mount is still on the wall, with the HDMIs etc. also hanging out and ready to plug in.
So in theory the new owner can plug their own system straight in. However it now occurs to me that maybe the new owner doesn't want a wall mounted tv and speakers in the same place, and if they don't then they are going to need to replaster and paint things.
Obviously this should have been discussed and agreed beforehand but the buyer never mentioned it and it didn't occur to me that the wall would look a bit of a mess without the tv installed.
Same goes for picture hooks etc.
Do PHers normally fill all the holes and paint when moving out, should I have done?
You left it better than I would have hoped for. I think leaving the cables in situ is extremely considerate, most people would remove them (whether they needed them or not, regardless of the cost being irrelevant as part of a house sale). Wondering about things of this nature suggests to me that you left the house just fine.Basically I'd installed a wall mounted tv and 5.1 surround system with all the cables hidden in the walls. So in moving I've taken the tv and speakers with me but left the ends of the wires poking out of the walls (so they don't fall inside) and the tv base mount is still on the wall, with the HDMIs etc. also hanging out and ready to plug in.
So in theory the new owner can plug their own system straight in. However it now occurs to me that maybe the new owner doesn't want a wall mounted tv and speakers in the same place, and if they don't then they are going to need to replaster and paint things.
Obviously this should have been discussed and agreed beforehand but the buyer never mentioned it and it didn't occur to me that the wall would look a bit of a mess without the tv installed.
Same goes for picture hooks etc.
Do PHers normally fill all the holes and paint when moving out, should I have done?
I’ve not long accepted an offer and this cropped up in discussion with my partner the other day.
The buyers have already marked themselves out as a little cantankerous.
My view is with most of our house recently redecorated, and I elected not to replace the pictures, the rooms that have got a few pictures will be left. My partner suggested I should be poking around trying to find the paint to make good.
I have decided that, on balance, they are getting a tidy house so I’m leaving the few hooks and screws in situ. The wall mount for the tv I’ll take but the holes I’ll leave.
On another note, leaving tvs and speakers to upgrade?! Seems rather extravagant to me.
The buyers have already marked themselves out as a little cantankerous.
My view is with most of our house recently redecorated, and I elected not to replace the pictures, the rooms that have got a few pictures will be left. My partner suggested I should be poking around trying to find the paint to make good.
I have decided that, on balance, they are getting a tidy house so I’m leaving the few hooks and screws in situ. The wall mount for the tv I’ll take but the holes I’ll leave.
On another note, leaving tvs and speakers to upgrade?! Seems rather extravagant to me.
dave123456 said:
On another note, leaving tvs and speakers to upgrade?! Seems rather extravagant to me.
I was making a big profit on each sale as I'd bought probate in two cases and done a complete refurb on them. With the third one, I managed to buy house that had been well developed but looked superficially naff. My wife transformed the look from Ken & Barbie to Farrow and Ball and we sold it at the top of the market. If the buyers wanted me to include part of the kits for the sale I really didn't mind. I didn't mind leaving a TV that was worth maybe £250 and speakers that were worth £200 max. It was the financial equivalent of a three month warranty, a tank of fuel and some floor mats.
dave123456 said:
I....
On another note, leaving tvs and speakers to upgrade?! Seems rather extravagant to me.
Our TV was £300 before covid.On another note, leaving tvs and speakers to upgrade?! Seems rather extravagant to me.
Kitchen speakers on wall brackets could be replaced from Mr Richer with new ones for about £120, they're a long way from new and I've got 2 pairs in the loft. As part of a negotiation, both could be bargaining chips because the mess left behind by removing is a fair bit compared to the value.
It's like selling a car and quibbling over a few quids worth of accessories, don't lose focus on the £500k+ deal over a few used items whose value is in the noise and aren't what you'd choose for the new house.
People will batter you down over the value of some faded curtains and think they've done well, when they've paid plenty for the house as a whole.
If I'm buying a place, the question would be 'are the 'accessories' worth more to me than to the seller?'
Stuff that takes time and effort to install and remove can often be usefully included, if the buyer likes it.
Some buyers want a lot of stuff removed. I got a greenhouse once, because a house seller needed it gone to make a sale happen.
In the bedroom of my last house I laid laminate flooring but I was one piece short to finish the job, so instead of buying another full pack I removed a piece from the centre of the room which was covered by the bed. Job jobbed.
It remained covered up until we moved house and Pickfords came and lifted the bed out of the room, exposing my bodge, I was quite embarrassed about that one
It remained covered up until we moved house and Pickfords came and lifted the bed out of the room, exposing my bodge, I was quite embarrassed about that one
OutInTheShed said:
dave123456 said:
I....
On another note, leaving tvs and speakers to upgrade?! Seems rather extravagant to me.
Our TV was £300 before covid.On another note, leaving tvs and speakers to upgrade?! Seems rather extravagant to me.
Kitchen speakers on wall brackets could be replaced from Mr Richer with new ones for about £120, they're a long way from new and I've got 2 pairs in the loft. As part of a negotiation, both could be bargaining chips because the mess left behind by removing is a fair bit compared to the value.
Plus I then had a perfect excuse to go to Richer Sounds and spend a bit of the profit. I normally hate shopping but I'm more than happy spending hours reading What Hifi reviews and poking about in RS.
Antony Moxey said:
PhilboSE said:
If you read the contract of sale it’s very likely it required you to fill in and make good any fittings you remove. However it’s rarely done and if it is done then it’s usually a bodge job, with some grainy crap DIY filler out of a tube and a splash of old paint which doesn’t match what’s on the wall (due to dirt, fading, tin aging etc).
Most people just accept whatever they find on buying a house, and make do.
He hasn't removed any fittings.Most people just accept whatever they find on buying a house, and make do.
Peterpetrole said:
So in moving I've taken the tv and speakers with me but left the ends of the wires poking out of the walls (so they don't fall inside) and the tv base mount is still on the wall, with the HDMIs etc. also hanging out and ready to plug in.
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