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Home Staging: What Makes a House Dated Part 2

By
Home Stager with Faulkner House Interior Redesign

 

In my previous post, Part 1, I mentioned some outdated furnishings and decorating trends that distract or detract from a home's features.  Those things will leave the home when it sells.  In the meantime, buyers may be able to look around, past or through these to see the home for what it is and the potential it has for their needs and lifestyle.

 

So now we are talking about the structure itself.  Take away the furnishings and what things in the home will make it seem dated and turn off buyers?  Remember that the most appealing home is one that is move-in ready. 

 

Wall colors can impact the way buyers perceive the space so the generally accepted practice is to have the walls a more neutral color to make the room move-in ready.  Even though color is more prominent in homes these days and people are becoming more confident in living with it, not ALL buyers will appreciate the effect that bold or saturated colors have on a room. 

 

Stark white walls with one bold accent wall color not only take a room back in time but can make the room feel uncomfortable because of the sharp contrast.  Buyers may think it would take too much time and too many coats of paint to cover that decorative accent and move on to the next house

 

Any flooring that is worn can make a room look tired and dated, even hardwood.  Worn carpet, no matter what color, looks dated. Some styles and textures of carpet can look old, but if they are in good condition the attention can be focused on more pleasing elements in the room.

 

Some paneling can make a room look dark and dated.  Mirrored walls can look dated depending on the application.  Solid colored red brick walls and fireplace surrounds, often seen in 50's and 60's homes,  are dated looking and are commonly updated by "white washing" or a coat of white paint chosen to look fresh but not stark.

Spindled room dividers that protect from changes in room levels are dated decorative features.  Updated railings from mixed wood and metal, all metal, metal and glass can be used to give a more current and updates/upscaled look.

Now let's go outside and take a look at dated landscaping and other home features.

Things that make a house look dated and destroy curb appeal:

  • Old, overgrown shrubs, especially those about to obscure the windows
  • Plantings so close to the walkway that you have to push your way through to the front door
  • Discolored sidewalks and driveways
  • Worn concrete patios or breezeway floors that have been painted or those with old green indoor/outdoor carpeting
  • Worn railroad tie retaining walls
  • Edging made of bricks set on an angle
  • Overgrown azaleas cut in a severe hedge form
  • Trees with heavy limbs in need of pruning (NOT topping!)
  • Steppng stones that are disappearing into the yard
  • Painted tire planters
  • Old roof solar panels
  • Faded and/or worn front door
  • Old outdoor light fixtures that are too small in scale for the home
  • Light fixtures that contrast with the style of the home
  • Leaning fences

Some things that date a home can be easily remedied, while some may require an investment in time and money to bring a home's appearance up-to-date.  Which things are worth it and which things aren't will depend on a seller's time, budget, the price point of the property and eventually the buyers' interest or lack of interest in the home.  

Comments (5)

Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

In my life Pam, with past houses I was slow to do some of these updates but they need to be done. I especially know about the old vinyl flooring and the leaning fences. I think unless we are just one of those who stays on top of things we always find "better things" often to do with our time and money. Discolored cement on sidewalks and driveways is very common with older houses. You provided a great list to review.

Jun 14, 2008 11:24 AM
Pam Faulkner
Faulkner House Interior Redesign - Herndon, VA
Room Transformations Fairfax & Loudoun Counties VA

Gary, who doesn't overlook things that should be done because life is so full of more immediate needs?  It's so easy to think that next weekend or when the weather is better there will be more time.  The problem is that sellers wait until the week the house is going on the market to work on these things.  Or they do nothing because it is just too overwhelming, and hope that an allowance for fixing the defects will help overcome buyer resistance.  In most cases it won't. 

Jun 14, 2008 11:38 AM
Jennifer Duchene
Lift Your Spirit Home Transformations - Palo Alto, CA
Stager & Redesigner

another fascinating glimpse Pam. BTW I just love the flooring examples- although I know I would dislike the rest of the stuff on the list except for tire planters - I love those - so cool. especially the painted ones.

but definitely got to get rid of tired old and dirty. Cracked, faded  & falling over - begone.

Jun 15, 2008 07:16 PM
Pam Faulkner
Faulkner House Interior Redesign - Herndon, VA
Room Transformations Fairfax & Loudoun Counties VA

HAHAHAHAHAAHAHA!!!!!  Jennifer, you are too funny.  I am always amused by the innovative yard art that I see when driving around and particularly in the countryside which is where the tire planters seem to be popular.  When my mother-in-law's kirchen was remodeled year ago there was some kind of textured mottled orange, gold and brown kitchen carpeting in it.  When it was pulled up there was vinyl under it that looked a lot like the second example on the left.  It was dated but so much better than the carpet. 

I like your list-tired, old, dirty, cracked, faded and falling over.  Good guidelines!  Thanks!

Jun 16, 2008 06:20 AM
Pam Faulkner
Faulkner House Interior Redesign - Herndon, VA
Room Transformations Fairfax & Loudoun Counties VA

A bit of an update or addition to the list of what makes a house look dated.  I met with a couple this morning and in discussing the pros and cons of some of the changes they were about to make I realized that I had left out some key things that can make a house look dated.

This couple had rough sawn chevron wood paneling in the basement, plastic crown moulding in nearly every room(unpainted), woven wood shades in the kitchen and breakfast area, upholstered walls in the entry and dining room, and track lights with large eyeball lights in the family room and one bedroom.  Obviously one of the previous owners had put a lot of time, effort and money into these features, some of which were very fashionable at the time, probably late 70's or early 80's. 

They had hit the jackpot on things that make a house look dated.

Jul 01, 2008 09:10 AM