Features That Date Your Home
There’s a fine line between “vintage” and “dated” when it comes to home features. Buyers tend to be willing to pay more for a contemporary-looking property. But how do you determine whether to invest in an update? Here are a few features it’s pretty safe to say are long past their expiration date.
1. Popcorn ceilings
Also known as acoustic, or cottage cheese ceilings, they were styled using a popular spray-on ceiling finish for decades. Fortunately, the finish is easy enough to remove using a variety of DIY methods.
2. Tiled countertops
Even if they’re not from the 40s or 50s, once you’ve wasted time scrubbing grout clean, you’ll understand why these should go. Changing your countertops to a current feature such as granite, quartz, or solid surface can make a excellent upgrade.
3. Brass
Back in the 80s, brass fixtures shone from everywhere they could be screwed or plugged in. That kind of home bling worked back when everyone wondered who shot J.R. To appeal to today’s buyer, update to a more neutral shade such as black or gray, or you can go with the very trendy copper.
4. Mauve
Also known as dusty rose, in the 80s this color infested everything from walls and carpets to Don Johnson’s “Miami Vice” blazers. Try swapping out for more neutral colors. Neutral is a good thing!
5. Short backsplashes
Popular in the 90s, colored glass and funky tile short backsplashes added color to kitchens. But they also visually shortened the kitchen walls. Replace them with tiles that reach all the way up to the cabinets to make the space look larger.
6. Formica cabinets
They were everywhere in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. Do some research and find other options for cabinet updating by changing doors, hardware or replacing the entire cabinetry with current options.
7. Wood paneling
Generally speaking, if you can envision Marsha, Cindy and Jan giggling in the Brady Bunch family room, it needs to go.
8. Flooring – Remember that paisley vinyl floors in the kitchen are not vintage, they are dated. Today’s options for flooring might make you very happy in terms of style and low pricing. Also, the old, worn, shag carpet will date any home, regardless of how trendy it was in the past.
You can get so many ideas from Pinterest or Houzz web sites. Do some exploring to see what type of dates features need to be upgraded. We’re here to help you and any of your friends that are wanting to SELL their Gainesville home!
4011 NW 43rd Street, Suite C
