Hi gang, if I repaint the interior walls of my 2014 caravan, paint the cupboards, install a better worktop, and generally make the interior look less caravanny, am I likely to devalue the caravan?
I can’t say about value, but it might well depend on how professional a job you do. I’m on an Auto-Sleeper forum where an AS Clubman is for sale. The owner is a boat builder & has rebuilt, improved & repainted the kitchen. (Another big difference was the bench seats being recovered with chic modern fabric.)
Personally, I thought it looked great, but many other things factor into the asking price / value.
It will all be down to personal taste of course.
Some people will think you've done a great job and really like what's been done to the place.
Others well......
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------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
You're canvasing opinion here rather than anything tangible that can be proven other than by putting your modified van on the open market, but IMHO yes, you would devalue it.
Assuming the van is in good order commensurate with it's age, a 2014 van is probably still worth £10,000-12,000 upwards depending on model and specification. If in poor condition then that may devalue it somewhat. My van is only a couple of years newer and holding it's value well, similar ones still selling for what or even more than I paid for it over 5 years ago!
Standard caravan styles and decor are not necessarily to everyone's taste when new let alone after fashions have changed (there's been some truly awful upholstery over the years!), but your personal custom tastes may be even less popular!
With a standard van, pretty much any part can be replaced with a identical part sourced from suppliers or breakers, should the need arise, BUT your custom finish excludes that, making it a potential liability! Do other people (potential buyers!) want a caravan that no longer looks like a caravan 'should' anyway!
Your standard of workmanship and quality of materials can make or break a custom job!
Plenty of people resurrect, refurbish, or otherwise modernise very old vans that have little intrinsic value, they 'may' actually raise the value of the van in that situation, but I suspect your van is young enough and still of sufficient intrinsic value that will NOT apply to any modifications you do.
There was a post on here a few weeks back from someone seeking opinion on whether to buy an older van that had undergone recent 'major redecoration', and the overwhelming response was 'walk away', 'do not touch with a barge poll'! The reasoning being that the modifications made it near impossible to judge the true general condition of the van, how well it had been cared for by past owners, and how well the new decor/fitments would endure over time. Also, how many 'nasties' was the fresh decor covering up!
Standard materials and fitments in caravans have been carefully chosen to endure over many years of ownership and use in sometimes fairly hostile conditions, the typical over winter storage without ventilation or heat subjects materials and finishes to conditions rarely seen in domestic use, and may promote mould growth etc.
If you can afford to jeopardise the value of the van, your OP suggests that is not the case, or you intend keeping it long enough for it's value to diminish to next to nothing anyway, then by all means do your thing to it, but if you expect it to retain typical market value after customisation, then I fear that will not be the case. I CERTAINLY would not entertain a custom refit on a van of any great value, no matter how superficially it appeared to be well done, and obviously a bad job or unappealing style just makes you turn on your heels and walk!
Personal opinion and all that, everyone to their own etc.
I take it as the question is in the Static section it is actually one, yes?
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
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Topic: Cupboard Painting & Devaluation
via mobile 23/8/2023 at 10:47pm
