Houses to sell!

[Jayne]

Hi,

I've watched lots of programs on DIY your property and house doctor type programs, they say you have to tart up your house to sell it. I personally don't agree with this. I buy bricks and mortar and decoration doesn't bother me. I hate new contemporary crap looking houses and these TV programs are producing little clone houses all over the UK.

Is there any special sites where people advertise different houses, not clones?

Jayne

[brian]

Heh, one of the ironies about doing a home up for sale is that you may have lived in a hole for years, and only bring the character out properly when you're actually preparing to leave it.

(I speak from near experience - we didn't do it up when we left, but we lost money because of it - circumstances wouldn't allow otherwise.)

Certainly it's hard not to let the decor of a house get in the way of my impression of a property - I guess I'm showing my own naivety in that.

[Jayne]

I do like a house that looks clean, but it breaks my heart on these TV shows that rip beautiful pine units out of old houses and put in stainless steel cold units etc and paint over lovely fire places. I love original character, I like the warm lived in look. Now a days everyone has to have a show house or you are outcast, scum of the earth..lol

I like to be a bit untidy, I don't feel comfortable if it looks clinical and these contemporary make-over shows should be banned.

That's what I think.

Jayne

[brian]

You're completely right about those stainless-steel panels - just saw a program tonight where they did that in the kitchen - stainless steel sheets on the kitchen walls instead of tiles, and stainless steel hood over the oven.

Do these people realise what a pain they are to clean as well?

[Jayne]

Stainless steel is horrible. I had a bakery for 12 years and it makes me cringe when I see it..lol

Jayne

[brian]

Did a stint in a fast food place some years back, and having to clean steel cupboards at 2am kills your enthusiasm for them in your own home.

[Jayne]

lol.. I know, i've spent many hours cleaning stainless steel, it should be banned!

I don't like wood flooring either, it's dangerous. I read an article in a mag a while since and accidents caused by slippy floors is one of the big things at A&E. Socks and slippy floors are a big no, no, I know that one from experience and a sore bum..lol

Jayne

[brian]

That's a good point, actually - we've got laminated flooring in the property we're in, and have to make sure the kids aren't just in tights downstairs.

In it's favour, it is easy to clean - but to be honest, when I visit carpetted houses they just feel all the more homely for having carpets.

[Jayne]

My sister paid for laminated floor all through, it was only down 6 months and she ripped it all up and put carpet back down, she said it was too slippy and too noisy, she hated it...lol

Jayne

[dan.gerous]

And a laminate floor always looks like.....a laminate floor...

If we must have wood ( I am not a huge fan as find it noisey and cold) then it could at least be real!

Carpets are great, but people need to be educated to take off shoes before entering houses - It never ceases to amaze me how often this common courtesy is neglected.