"Dated" Is Your House "Dated"?
February 3, 2011
I sit a lot of open houses and one of the comments that I all too frequently get is "This house is really dated. It needs a lot of work." The house may be crisp and clean, so I look at its features to reflect on what constitutes a "dated" house.
First off, it seems that any house that was constructed in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s will be perceived as "dated". Interestingly, the homes built before 1970 may escape being so stigmatised - particularly if they were built in the 1950s. They have become "mid-century modern".
One characteristic of a "dated" home is that it does not have granite kitchen and bathroom counters. Another "dated" feature is a "popcorn" ceiling. Buyers really have wanted smooth ceilings for some time. Another "dated" feature is an eight foot ceiling. Buyers like the openness of higher ceilings.
And so it goes. What buyers want changes and the homeowner with some of these "dated" features needs to recognize that prospective buyers are looking at what their costs might be to bring the house "up-to-date".
While it is a messy job, removing a popcorn ceiling is well worth the expenditure. Installing new dual paned windows is worth while. Installing a new roll-up garage door is worthwhile. Raising your ceilings is probably far too costly and may not give you much return on your expenditure. If your kitchen counters are in good shape and fit the style of your house, perhaps granite is not a great idea.
For homeowners who are thinking they might be selling soon, a walk-thru their homes and checking how "dated" it might look. Touring new tract houses will also be beneficial and learning what builders have included based on builders' research of housing trends.
Maintaining your home and making improvements along the way will do much to eliminate the negativity of "dated".
I sit a lot of open houses and one of the comments that I all too frequently get is "This house is really dated. It needs a lot of work." The house may be crisp and clean, so I look at its features to reflect on what constitutes a "dated" house.
First off, it seems that any house that was constructed in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s will be perceived as "dated". Interestingly, the homes built before 1970 may escape being so stigmatised - particularly if they were built in the 1950s. They have become "mid-century modern".
One characteristic of a "dated" home is that it does not have granite kitchen and bathroom counters. Another "dated" feature is a "popcorn" ceiling. Buyers really have wanted smooth ceilings for some time. Another "dated" feature is an eight foot ceiling. Buyers like the openness of higher ceilings.
And so it goes. What buyers want changes and the homeowner with some of these "dated" features needs to recognize that prospective buyers are looking at what their costs might be to bring the house "up-to-date".
While it is a messy job, removing a popcorn ceiling is well worth the expenditure. Installing new dual paned windows is worth while. Installing a new roll-up garage door is worthwhile. Raising your ceilings is probably far too costly and may not give you much return on your expenditure. If your kitchen counters are in good shape and fit the style of your house, perhaps granite is not a great idea.
For homeowners who are thinking they might be selling soon, a walk-thru their homes and checking how "dated" it might look. Touring new tract houses will also be beneficial and learning what builders have included based on builders' research of housing trends.
Maintaining your home and making improvements along the way will do much to eliminate the negativity of "dated".
posted by shirley harry at 8:32 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home