| You have a house for sale and there seems to be a recurring theme comment that the house is – “dated.” So I was just wondering, what does “dated” mean to you? Picked up at 6:00. Dinner at 7:00 Movie at 9:00. Then back home for some…….oops, wrong “dated”. Does it bring on these responses? “Oh, I remember that from my 4th-grade friend’s house!”“Haven’t seen that in years!”“That hardwood looks as worn as a saloon dance floor.” Does it mean that there hasn’t been any changes in 30 years? Where “recently renovated” means the house had gone from uninhabitable to unpleasant. Or owned by someone who didn’t know the difference between a table saw and a drill. Or remark without irony that the walls are painted the colour of mottled liver. Say the words “faux finish” three times and you’ll be transported to the early ’90s, in a room accented by experimental painting techniques that never quite pulled off the exotic vibe they were hoping for.The association can be harder to shake than having the theme song to “Mad About You” or “Friends” stuck in your head. |
| Is it the painted fruit tiles that someone in a galaxy far, far away, picked for the kitchen backsplash? The kitchen light fixture that looks like it belongs in an operating room. The garden trend of the ’80s where the more floral patterns, the better. The perky pink tile countertops, metallic hallway wallpaper, shag carpeting in the ensuite bathroom, lacey drapes, burgundy bedroom walls, narrow wood-stained baseboards, “brick” vinyl on the kitchen floor, builder grade faux marble, shiny brass light fixtures, wallpaper borders…and the list goes on. |
| Buyers usually fall into one of two camps when it comes to out-of-style homes. They either see it as an opportunity or a liability, and as a realtor, this is often out of your control. A home is a product, yes, but like most products, buyers will base their decision on their full experience. It is rare to completely detach from the emotions of buying a house and strictly deal with the nuts and bolts of the construction. It’s rare and the exception, to find house hunters that don’t need an emotional connection to purchase. Their brains simply won’t let them. |
| So there needs to be something that excites them visually. Something that makes them stop and linger in a room. |
A breakup or a breakthrough |
| Of course, “outdated” is subjective, but unlike dating, it really doesn’t have to be that complicated. |
| After all, the purpose of a first date – and looking for a house – is a conscious effort to discover what you like, what you dislike, and the “non-negotiables”, in other words, the best hookup. |
| Everyone has personal mate preferences – whether they leave used dental floss around the house, whether they hate dessert, don’t like cats, really like cats. But they’re not always obvious deal-breakers, either. |
| But like a first date with someone covered in Batman tattoos, a first impression is usually a lasting impression. |
Speed dating |
| Easy, impactful updates that cost nothing or very little. |
| Remove heavy fabrics, or lacey drapes, valances, ties, fringed trim that belong to the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. They can be easily updated by swapping for crisp-and-airy white linen alternatives. Pro tip: Hang new curtains as close to the ceiling as possible to draw the eye up to create the illusion of taller ceilings. |
Cloaking |
| Remove tablecloths, no matter how burnished or worn the table. |
Soft launching |
| Covering up pink tiles with a closed shower curtain won’t solve the issue. A better option is to lean into the “light and bright” effect by decorating with new and fluffy white towels and a white orchid on the counter. |
Cushioning |
| Plaid wingback chairs or a tufted sofa could be updated by down toss cushions or a beautiful textured throw. Pillows are much cheaper than new furniture. |
Fluffer |
| An aged dresser could stand in as an entry piece, a serving area for beverages or as storage in a home office. |
Bed-crumbing |
| From drab to fab. Use bold bedding, toss pillows or modern art in a bedroom outfitted with dark wood furniture. Contemporary lamps will also update the room. |
Cupcaking |
| Style and sparkle. Inside of piles of dishes, arrange crystal glasses “soldier-style”, hard cover books to the front of the shelves, or large vases and art objects inside an heirloom hutch. |
Capering |
| A bold strategy. Replace tiny art pieces with one large piece. There are a myriad of inexpensive and quick options available. This not only updates a room, but brings it to life, drawing buyers into the room, not to mention a great MLS photo. |
Orbiting |
| A light change. Changing out dated (and brassy) light fixtures to contemporary ones will instantly add 20 years to a room. Even the chicest room will scream dated with a Tiffany or a fussy bell-style shade. Swap to new or just change out the shades. |
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By the way, when was your perfect date? Mine was April 26 because it wasn’t too hot and it wasn’t too cold. All I needed was a light jacket. |
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