We might research the biggest trends in decor and design accordingly, maybe even changing colors and accessories each year. If we can offer a bit of advice to all of you ambitious home designers, it would be a word of caution about following the "big trends" too closely, especially if you are not in your forever home. There are actually a few trends that can backfire when the time comes to sell your house. Especially in a market that is pretty traditional in terms of taste, be careful about individualizing your house too much or creating a space that would be very difficult for a potential buyer to see himself or herself in when it's time.
If you know you'll one day sell your home, consider holding off on these choices that might turn buyers off.
Wondering what these specific trends are? Let us share a few with you!
1. Boldly Painted Walls
Decorators often consider black, dark blue/purple or another bold paint color as the perfect backdrop to metallic accessories or appliances in modern home design.The reality is that people prefer the exterior and interior walls of a home to be neutral. Even though repainting is cheap and relatively easy to do, it’s still a pain and buyers might not want to bother. When decorating, your best bet is to stick to a calming hue for the walls and use accessories to provide pops of color. Some great neutrals right now are cream/off white, gray, greige (mix of gray & beige), soft green, and light blue.
2. Wallpaper
Bold, graphic patterns are increasingly being incorporated into interior design, most often in the form of wallpaper. But wallpaper, even if it’s only on one wall, is an extremely personal choice and time-consuming (and expensive!) to remove if it does not appeal to the buyer. Consider replacing wallpaper with a neutral paint for broader appeal. If you really want wallpaper in your home, there are actually a lot of tasteful, neutral papers that have great texture and are very current, like a nice grass cloth.
3. Lavish Light Fixtures
Because potential buyers want rooms that seem airy and bright, beware of installing a showpiece light fixture that is too modern or ornate. Fixtures should enhance your home, not steal the spotlight, and should be in the same style as the rest of the home. Finishes that are very popular with buyers right now are brushed nickel, antique bronze, and black wrought iron.
4. Glittering Gold
Designers may be mixing silver and gold to give homes a rich star quality, but it might be wise to change out fixtures if they have the wrong metallic sheen. Gold can give a home an outdated, 1980s feel, because that is when gold finishes were very popular. Switching out the faucet and door handles with a more appealing finish, such as brushed nickel, bronze, or chrome, is actually relatively inexpensive and can help make your home appear sleek and updated rather than out of style.
5. Converted Garages
Potential buyers want a covered parking space so that they have a safe place for their car, especially in areas where street parking is not allowed by an HOA or they have 2-3 vehicles in the family. Additionally, people often use their garage as storage space. If you convert your garage into a space tailored your specific needs, such as a workshop, or extra living area, it may not suit your potential buyers.
6. Converted Bedrooms
Like with the garage, people want rooms built and used for their original purpose. If you’ve converted an unused bedroom to an office, walk-in closet, or a game room, make sure you can easily convert it back to a bedroom when you’re ready to sell. It might even help to stage the home as a bedroom when you are selling so buyers can see how furniture fits.
7. Carpets
While many designers love to experiment with the texture of different types of carpeting as it feels soft underfoot, the majority of home buyers prefer hardwood floors, at least in the main living areas of a home. People assume carpets trap dirt, germs and odors, and they don’t want to go through the hassle of steam cleaning their home before they can move in. Potential buyers also don’t want to spend time removing carpet to expose hardwood floors. If you like carpet, which many of us do, try to use one that is durable, easy to clean, and neutral.
8. Too Much Landscaping
The “outdoor living room” is all the rage, and you may be tempted to build out your backyard into a lavish wilderness of flowers. But potential buyers may be hesitant to buy a home with an overly landscaped property because they simply see a lot of maintenance that they might not want to take on. Focus on creating or maintaining a nice and neat outdoor space that people can enjoy without too much fuss. Opt for plants and flowers that don't require a lot of care to maintain and are easy to grow in this particular climate.
9. Pools and Hot Tubs
A pool may seem like a luxurious feature for some, but it can be a big turnoff for buyers. When a home has a pool, we typically see about 50% of buyers discount the property because of the extra maintenance. Pools are perceived to be expensive to maintain and potential safety hazards, especially for families with children. Above-ground pools are eyesores and can leave a dead spot in the backyard if removed. These sentiments extend to hot tubs, too. Many people see hot tubs as breeding grounds for bacteria, and they are not a feature easily removed from the deck or back yard. There are buyers that insist on having a pool; we simply want you to be aware that they are tough on resale value.
So what do you think? We would love to hear buyers' opinions and always welcome feedback. If your home features one or many items on this list, don't fret. This is simply to be used as a guide when you're updating and making changes, especially to sell. We always aim to get the most value from your home and these choices will help us do that.
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