Harleysville-Lansdale Real Estate and More

Friends of our have a 60 year old split level home.  They have done a beautiful job maintaining the home and making renovations to the kitchen and bathrooms.  Floors have been refinished.  New tile has been laid in the foyer.  New built-in cabinets have been added to the family room.  Their choice of paint colors, fixtures, decorating and furnishings are modern and stylish. 

You would never guess the home was built in 1951.  If this house were put up for sale, it would be a serious contender against much younger homes and new construction.

 

Last week, I was showing a 2-story colonial home that was 15 years old.  Honestly, it felt like it was the 60 year old home.  Okay, maybe not 60, but this home could easily have been mistaken for 25-35 years old.  Everything was original: carpets, builder’s paint, builder’s fixtures, the kitchen and bathrooms (which were not terribly upgraded when the house was built – linoleum floors, Formica countertops).  There were peeling stickers on the doors to the kids’ bedrooms, dings in the trim work.  There was a musty odor in the basement and the drop ceiling tiles were stained.  There was wallpaper in the kitchen that was popular in the late 80’s, but not now. 

The house needed a good dusting.  The whole house just felt tired and dated.

 

There is a website called RealAge.  On it, you can take a quiz about your habits and lifestyle that ultimately impact your “real age” versus your biological age.  Are you really a 30 year old trapped in a 40 year old body?  Or is it the opposite, you act and feel more like 80 but are in fact, biologically, you are only 60 years old?

This got me thinking about what adds or detracts from how “young” a house feels.  This is systems aside; a home inspector looks at the foundation, roof, HVAC system, etc.  I am referring to the impression when you simply walk through a home. 

Of course, there are buyers who love old homes, all the character and craftsmanship, or they have always wanted to live in an older well-established neighborhood.  So while not everyone necessarily wants a new/newer house, most buyers do want a house that feels clean, fresh, new, young, exciting…. 

So what features affect the Real Age of a house?  This is very unscientific and purely in my personal opinion after looking at hundreds of houses….

 

The Top 10 things that tend to add age or at very least ‘date’ a house:

1) Most Wallpaper (especially the 1980’s and older floral patterns – it is even worse when the curtains match the wallpaper)

2) Wallpaper borders (except in a nursery – nurseries are unique, parents keep them immaculate and adorable even when the rest of the house might be a wreck (they do the same thing with their clothes and the appearance of the child versus themselves))

3) Stenciling, sponge painting, popcorn ceilings

4) Worn flooring and carpets, peeling linoleum

5) Heavy draperies with pulley rods, lace curtains, vertical blinds

6) Steel framed single pane windows (circa 1890 – 1950)

7) Odors – dog, cat, mildew, cooking, cigarettes, moth balls, fuel oil, downdrafts from the fireplace (candles can’t mask this stuff)

8) Cracks – basement walls, drywall, sidewalks, driveway, chimney, patios (it is even worse when weeds are growing through them)

9) Finished basements with any combination of stained drop ceilings, veneer wood paneling, asbestos floor tiles, and fluorescent lights

10) Faded Wedgewood blue siding or shutters

 

The Top 10 things that help make a house feel younger:

1) Cleanliness (anything that shines invariably looks newer)

2) Upgraded features in a kitchen – islands, granite countertops, quality cabinets with nice hardware, newer faucets

3) Newer appliances (refrigerators and stoves stand out the most)

4) Modern light fixtures, especially recessed lighting

5) Replacement of builder-grade fixtures – lights, switches, dimmers, door knobs, medicine cabinets

6) Raised panel white doors (instead of hollow wood veneer doors)

7) Fresh paint in soft, trendy but neutral colors

8) Full view storm doors and newer garage doors

9) Open floor plans with lots of natural light coming in

10) Modern furnishings and chic décor (think Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware)

 

Inevitably, the “Real Age” of a house will affect its desirability in today’s market. Not sure how your house would fare?  If you are thinking of selling, give us a call.  We can make some simpler recommendations to give your house a ‘facelift’ without breaking the bank.

 

 

What is the 'Real Age' of Your House? originally appeared in the Montgomeryville-Lansdale Patch.

Contact Scott Loper, Associate Broker, Realtor®, RE/MAX Realty Group at 215-513-1333 for help buying or selling a home in Lansdale, Harleysville, Hatfield, Souderton, Skippack, Collegeville, North Wales and the surrounding areas of Montgomery County of Pennsylvania. To Search for Homes For Sale in Montgomery County Click Here.

What is the 'Real Age' of Your House? - Copyright © 2011, The Scott Loper Team, All rights reserved.