With a lumbering real estate market, it’s a great time to consider trading up or changing locale. I can’t see interest rates going anywhere in a big hurry, so it’s not panic time and if selling your home in current markets is not optimal, then renovation is a smart way to go.
I asked Andrew Williams, an excellent realtor (and awesome defenseman on our hockey team), for his views on what improvements make a house sell. He pointed out that buying decisions tend to be based more on visual impact, rather than hidden improvements such as new wiring or adding insulation.
Kitchens:
Open up a cramped kitchen and consider adding an island (pictured above), which might conjure up images of cooking and entertaining in the minds of buyers. I designed the above kitchen island for a client to also accommodate dining. Andrew suggested that if your budget is limited, then consider painting the existing cabinets and adding a new granite countertop.
Flooring:
New hardwood flooring gets easily noticed. Engineered hardwood flooring is a great alternative to solid, while laminate flooring just looks & sounds cheap and today’s sophisticated buyers aren’t easily fooled.
Baseboards:
Who knew? I know, baseboards don’t scream sexy design, but Andrew points out that new baseboards are an inexpensive way to add a crisp, luxurious detail to rooms. Crown mouldings also add interest to otherwise humdrum spaces.
Lighting:
Often overlooked, lighting can completely change the look and feel of a room. Built-in halogen or LED lighting with dimmer switches allows you to control the ambience of a room. Floor lamps also provide great ambient light and a favourite of mine is the Toio light, designed around the concept of using a car headlamp as the light source.
Have a design dilemma? Email me at [email protected] and I will do my best to answer your questions and maybe feature the topic in an upcoming blog.
Andrew Williams is a member of Remax Realty Services and can be contacted at [email protected].
