Real Estate Advice
In the Modern World
Dear
Pat,
Two years ago we bought a bungalow that needed
remodeling in the kitchen and bath. We are fairly young and have
little regard for Old-world charm, preferring instead the simplicity
of Scandinavian design (minimalist, bright and unadorned). We
remodeled the house with that aesthetic in mind, installing
flat-fronted, unvarnished birch cabinets in the kitchen, grey quarry
tile for the floors in the bathroom, and Ikea light fixtures in
several places. The styles we have chosen are very popular amongst
people our age, and there is a deep affinity between the style of our
house and the modernist vernacular expressed most purely by the
Riverview Theater. We love it, but have we overly narrowed our pool of
potential buyers?
------Best, Modern |
Dear Modern,
Not at all, as long as there's a tub in the bathroom.
In fact, the few bungalows I've listed in recent years with "modern"
looking kitchens and/or baths have been some of the quickest to sell.
For readers who are simply thinking "remodeled," I should clarify: by
"modern" I mean the clean-lined look that blossomed in the 1930's and
peaked in the 1950's (the lamented Terrace Theater in Robbinsdale was
a fine example of later modern). Think Art Deco, flying saucers, hoola
hoops. Fixtures and materials creating or hinting at the modern look
are appealing to many new homeowners unwilling to march to the Home
Depot drummer. Stainless steel countertops and utility tables,
composite floor tiles, Euro-style cabinetry and new incarnations of
track lighting are all finding their way into bungalow kitchens,
making the spaces more colorful, and often larger.
Here's the (real estate) Bungalow Rule: be as creative as you want to
be in kitchens and baths. While some purists are offended at the
notion of removing the claw foot tub or changing the old pantry, they
are a small minority--most buyers want the convenience that remodeled
spaces afford them. And I daresay most of them would welcome your
creative effort to go beyond the cash-and-carry look we get from the
big home improvement stores. |
But stop there, Modern. From a real
estate standpoint, you are much safer preserving
the original look in the other rooms, particularly
the front rooms and porch. Restore or duplicate
the original woodwork wherever needed. Sand the
hardwood floors. Please refer to a previous
article now online (september2000)
for my complete rant on vinyl replacement windows.
And feel free to call me anytime for a market
analysis--I'd love to see what you've done!
|
Pat
Rosaves is a full-time real estate
professional living in the Seward -
Longfellow area. She has more than 27
years experience in helping people with
their real estate needs. Questions may be
sent to her at River Realty, 2543 38th
Avenue South, Mpls, MN 55406. Or call her
at 612-724-1314 or email her at
pat@riverrealty.net
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