[milliebfit]

We are putting our house on the market in the next couple of months for our move to Tucson. Our counter tops are old. We were planning on changing them but we are moving. Does anyone think we should replace them anyway. They are in good condition just old. They say the 2 things that would sell your house is a nice kitchen and bathroom. We are just not sure what to do.

[thecuban]

milliebfit said:

We are putting our house on the market in the next couple of months for our move to Tucson. Our counter tops are old. We were planning on changing them but we are moving. Does anyone think we should replace them anyway. They are in good condition just old. They say the 2 things that would sell your house is a nice kitchen and bathroom. We are just not sure what to do.

It depends on the market. But your right a bad kitchen can kill a deal. If your counter top is in good condition you might consider putting in some nice door and drawer knobs or putting in some nice 3"crown. Home depot or Lowe's usually has it to match. Changing the counter top can get costly besides it should be done by a professional. Walls are often not square or straight and then you have the sink to worry about. You might think of giving the buyer a credit so he can get it done himself. Good luck hope you sell fast.

[NHYRNUT]

Me and my better half owened a tenament that sat on the market for 4 months. I tiled the 2 and 3rd fllor showers which was easy to do and the house sold in less than 2 weeks. It cost a whole $123.56 for the tile ,Glue ,grout, sealer,spacers, and creatboard. And only took me 2 days to do them both after work. Very easy and looks shrp when done.

[milliebfit]

Thanks for the tips. I think we will try and sell the house with the present counter tops. If it is not selling I think we will change them but do it as cheap as possible.

[CandyApple]

When I moved into the apartment I'm living in now, after (or just before) I signed the lease they let me know not to put hot pots and pans on the counter because it would bubble up and ruin their expensive remodeled counter tops. Geeze, I can put a hot pot on my ten dollar card table just fine, but not on expensive counter tops, which are right by the stove where you'd need to put hot stuff? Thanks for telling me *after* we've been here for an hour reading over the lease.

After learning that, those counter tops suddenly didn't look as nice as they did a few minutes ago. In fact, they looked superficial and cheap, despite whatever they claim it cost. I wonder what else they remodeled in that superficial fashion...

Moral of the story? Don't do that- get counter tops you can use! I know I'll be asking what they're made of if/when I buy a house.

[Wyody]

If you've got scratches and gouges - try this. They make a vinyl-floor repair kit with resin and bond - but forget about those - use the paints they give you (look like those little paint-by-number paints) and mix as close to color
as you can. finish with a bit of epoxy or clear nail-polish.

[milliebfit]

Wyody said:

If you've got scratches and gouges - try this. They make a vinyl-floor repair kit with resin and bond - but forget about those - use the paints they give you (look like those little paint-by-number paints) and mix as close to color
as you can. finish with a bit of epoxy or clear nail-polish.

Wow! Good tip! Sounds like something I can do. Thanks

[Sekretgardengal]

If you declutter your home and it is clean and tidy, an old countertop can be overlooked. We just bought our new home and it has old countertops but the house is immaculate and large.

[Sekretgardengal]

Also, I now have the choice to put in what ever we want in the kitchen.

[the dufferz]

milliebfit,

first stop would be your realtor to gauge the housing market.

They should be able to give you an idea if this will cause a problem.

Second stop may be a friend who is honest, have them do a walk through and tell you what turns them off.

If you decide you need to replace the counter, be careful about going cheap if the result is a cheap look. You can do something that will gain you points with little or no work on your part. Offer the potential homeowner a credit toward new countertops. Match the price you would have paid. That way a new owner can pick out what they want vs. what you would put in. Some buyers appreciate this.

The last option would be to cover the counter with dirty pots and pans....

[Sekretgardengal]

Why not post some photos here and we can help you out?

[PDXnative]

Yeah, post photos and we will advise

[milliebfit]

Me post pictures? I can't figure out how to put smiley faces on here! The counters are in fairly good shape, some scratches. They are just old and dark in color. Our realtor is coming to the house the begining of feb. we will see what he thinks. Wyody had a suggestion for the scratches. I just want someone to love my house so we get the most money we can.

[thecuban]

Sekretgardengal said:

Why not post some photos here and we can help you out?

That is a great suggestion. A picture is worth a thousand words.

[scirocco22]

I heard the same thing "if you are going to spend any money at all updating before selling, concentrate on the kitchen and then the bathrooms; it's where you'll have the most chance on getting your money back or more."

When I sold my house in Washington a few years ago, I did concentrate on updating the kitchen and the bathrooms.

What I did with the kitchen and bathroom countertops is to use Granite Transformations' RockSolid Granit overlay. I was skeptical at first but the more and more I read, the greater I liked it. They lay a preformed overlay over the existing countertops. The surface area looks almost as good as a granite slab but significantly less expensive. It's quite a bit thinner but it's also more scratch and damage resistant and it's virtually maintenance free. It can even be advertised as granite because only a small percentage of it is not ...that small percentage being resin. Everybody that I showed it to once it was installed just went nuts over it ...neighbors, family, friends. That place is probably going to get a lot of referral business just from me!

Anyway, I figured I actually got my money back and more from that investment after the sale of the house was through. Although it can't be figured to acutally prove it, nobody has disagreed with me yet.

--'rocco

[milliebfit]

We put our house on the market yesterday(2/11). Our realtor thinks our counter tops should be fine the way they are. So keep your fingers crossed that we sell our house in the next 4 1/2 months!!! I will keep you all posted..thats if anyone is interested!!

[Sekretgardengal]

Make sure you put St. Joseph outside. Bury him upsidedown in the ground with his face facing the street.

[Wyody]

Sekretgardengal said:

Make sure you put St. Joseph outside. Bury him upsidedown in the ground with his face facing the street.

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[MyAzi]

Wyody said:

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http://www.catholics...tmas/stjoe.html

[milliebfit]

Sekretgardengal said:

Make sure you put St. Joseph outside. Bury him upsidedown in the ground with his face facing the street.

I have St. Joseph at my front window facing the street. I did not know I needed to bury him. Do I dig him up and take him with me to my next house? I know this may sound silly to some...but I do believe in the power of prayer!