Soooo....

[BarTopDancer]

I completely agree with the article. If you want your house to sell, especially in this market you need to bring it up to date, make it appealing to what others will want and what other houses have.

No one is saying to get rid of that stuff if you like it and don't plan on moving. But if you are trying to sell and your house looks like it belongs on the set of a WHAM video then you shouldn't be surprised when it doesn't sell.

[katiesue]

I agree with the article as well. In my area if you're selling you're competing with newly built homes just across the freeway. You need to update so yours looks compriable to the competition.

[Morrigoon]

Yes, the need to update it... my complaint comes with their specific suggestions, I think they go too far.

[Alex]

Solid advice since people are idiots and things that should have zero effect on a home's value do. However, if when shopping for a home anything in this section affects your decision making process I hereby label you an idiot.

Isn't that special?
The last thing to consider inside your house is furniture and finishing touches. While classic wood furniture will look good in any decade, there are some signs of the times that need to be banished forever.

• If you have upholstered chairs and couches in a dated, splashy print you might consider recovering them in something a little less distracting such as stain-resistant microfiber, Patterson says. Some bold patterns are making a comeback, however. So thumb through current magazines and catalogs to help you decide whether you're truly passé or incredibly ahead of the design curve.
  
• Glass coffee tables with a very ornate iron base can be updated with a simple wood or stone pedestal.

Art is subjective, but here are some things to think about:

• Is it time to ditch the statue with the dancing figures?
  
• Do you really need that statue of fertility deity Kokopelli from your Southwest period?
  
• When was the last time you saw a Nagel-type print outside of a hair or nail salon?

Also, consider the scale of your accessories on fireplace mantels and shelves, Patterson says. Candles and vases sold at home stores today are wider and taller and look better in groupings rather than alone, Patterson says.


And a word about windows: In the 1980s, window treatments were full of flowers and frills, and drapes sported ornate valances. "We are moving away from all those ruffles," Mayhugh says.


Ditch any vertical blinds you have because they look cheap and invariably become mangled and dirty. Replace them with plantation-style shutters, flat-paneled drapes or curtains with a subtle inverted pleat.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

Yes, the need to update it... my complaint comes with their specific suggestions, I think they go too far.

Then don't take their advice, but don't wonder why the houses don't sell. It is crucial that a person can picture it as their home. Outdated decor brings them out of the imagination state and into a warped reality of completely outdated furniture and design.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Alex

Solid advice since people are idiots and things that should have zero effect on a home's value do. However, if when shopping for a home anything in this section affects your decision making process I hereby label you an idiot.

Agreed. If it will be gone by the time you move in, at no cost to you, it's meaningless.

[Gemini Cricket]

I had a faboo time at Club 33. I'll post pics tonight after work.

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

Then don't take their advice, but don't wonder why the houses don't sell. It is crucial that a person can picture it as their home. Outdated decor brings them out of the imagination state and into a warped reality of completely outdated furniture and design.

Why so much vitriol, BTD? You think I don't know what buyers are looking for in a home? My point was that I think the suggestions were a bit overboard in what should be done, and that some suggestions were things that would quickly become dated themselves.

And please... ripping out a wall mirror in a bathroom? Yes a framed mirror is cute, but when you're talking about repairing or replacing drywall, you're talking about a much bigger endeavor than most home sellers would or should consider.

You wanna do simple things that will improve your home's saleability? Remove half your furniture and take all family photos off the wall.

[Alex]

Also, if at all possible, sell it in 2005.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

Why so much vitriol, BTD? You think I don't know what buyers are looking for in a home? My point was that I think the suggestions were a bit overboard in what should be done, and that some suggestions were things that would quickly become dated themselves.

And please... ripping out a wall mirror in a bathroom? Yes a framed mirror is cute, but when you're talking about repairing or replacing drywall, you're talking about a much bigger endeavor than most home sellers would or should consider.

You wanna do simple things that will improve your home's saleability? Remove half your furniture and take all family photos off the wall.

Not vitriol. I was saying if you don't like the suggestions then don't take them. I hear vents and gripes from my co-workers on a daily basis how the people they are trying to help move refuse to update their house and expect the buyer to accept it how it is because that is how they (the seller) likes it. Instead the homes are on the market for much longer than other homes in the area that did make an effort to update a bit. What the article is suggesting is true. One has to be willing to update their house to sell.

Pru, do what you can and work with what you have. It sounds like you're doing a great job of making your place totally marketable by updating the flooring and the stove. A good agent will also be able to make suggestions that help downplay the things that could be problematic (outdated counters, paint colors).