There's a break-even point where updating a house to be turn-key won't pay off in the price received. That said, turn-key may make it sell faster. Like you, I prefer to put my own stamp on the home. My dream purchase is a house that hasn't been updated since the 80's or prior. Of course, it needs to be priced correctly given the work needed.

My most current beef is sellers with "warm" colored finishes like granite, painting cabinetry grey in a misguided effort to make the house appear updated. The combination just looks terrible. Unfortunately, buyers don't always pick up on it.

We've never bought a "used" house, but I"ve seen plenty of them. If and when we sell the current house, we will buy a used place. We don't have interest in building again.

I strongly dislike the current grey everything and make it into a fake farmhouse trends. Given that I'd redo it all, even if it was just updated, I'd prefer paying less for something that needs updates I can make myself.

A neighbor in my condo association painted, put in all new carpet and light fixtures thinking it was necessary for a sale.The new owner redid it all. Took out the carpet and put in wood floors, changed all the new light fixtures and repainted.

I prefer a buying mix of both (which is why I didn't vote): I won't buy a place that needs new flooring or anything else that would require a lot of difficulty to have done (or must be done before I move in), but I don't really care if "quick-fix" things like light fixtures or paint need to be changed, because I can easily live there though having those redone. I wouldn't not buy because of the colour of the walls, but I might not buy because of the state of the floor. The place I'm moving into has some light fixtures I hate, but I'll live with them a while before deciding if I hate them enough to replace them ;) Finding contractors and living through a structural remodel is something I hope never to have to do again, and these days they're pretty hard to find (and prices have gone way up).

Whether or not creating a "turnkey" look before selling is important will depend on your local real estate market at the time. In some markets (like here, right now), the advice is to not make any changes, just clean and declutter......apparently a lot of buyers are making changes before moving in.

It entirely depends on the market and the house. Things are so hot and inventory is so ow right now, that I'd just repair any known defects and let it go. Do termite repairs, fix things that are broken, etc. Staging? Empty out have your possessions and scrub clean.

If the RE market is slow and you have an average subdivision home, and there are lots of homes on the market in your area, then maybe do the staging. But I'd hate to buy someone else's cheap remodel when I can do what I prefer. (drawers in kitchens, anyone? And I hate gray.)

I'm sick to death of gray and all the other characterless new build/current staging. I'm pretty sure I'd pass on a used house that had been updated to appeal to the masses because I don't like the look and I'd feel like all that updating would be built into the price. Then I'd have to invest those $ again to get it the way I wanted it. I also think people cheap out when they update right before selling and I prefer quality materials. I'd rather buy a quality home with finishes that aren't offensive to me, even if a bit dated, and refresh it to my liking over time. Dated is almost always closer to my taste than fresh and new because I never want what everyone else has.