Everyone is different but I prefer a place in need of cosmetics so that I can decide what *I* want. (I've done this before.) If I move into a "move-in-ready" place that has silly pedestal sinks in the bathroom (provide no storage) or those trendy sinks that look like basins above the vanity (break easily because they're unprotected) or Ikea kitchen cabinets (=particleboard crap), or they turned a real kitchen into a Pullman kitchen (=insufficient storage and only tall people can reach the high-up cabinets above the fridge) or everything is stainless steel (difficult to keep clean and reminds me of a science lab), or the plan is so open that all the dirty dishes can be seen from the living room, then it will look pristine and be move-in ready, but it won't suit my particular preferences. And people (developers included) do some pretty bizarre things that are not practical and I often wonder, "WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?" So to answer your question: yes, it's a pain in the neck to design/build new spaces, but I'd rather do it when I can afford it and so that it accommodates my personal preferences. But it's time-consuming and inconvenient while the renovations are going on (for example, having your fridge in the dining room for 3 weeks while the kitchen is being redone), so I can understand why some people, especially those with young kids, wouldn't want to do it, even though I did it with young children in the house. But if it means the difference between paying for an $800K condo or a much lower-priced place that needs work, I'd rather do the work. And, of course, the place in need of work has to be in the right location.
