3 Features That Make Your Home Look Dated – and What to Replace Them With

Published On: February 10, 2022|Categories: Blog, Home Sellers, Sellers, Staging, Tips, Life Hacks & How-to|
3 Features That Date Your Home

Check out the three features that make your home look dated – and what you can do to make your house more modern (and more appealing to buyers).

If you’re like many people selling a home in Jasper, Ferdinand, Huntingburg or another community, your REALTOR® will walk through your space with you and point out areas that need some TLC – especially areas that make your home look dated or poorly maintained. The more up-to-date and cared-for your home looks, the more likely you are to be able to sell it quickly and at the right price. But what are the worst offenders? This guide explains the three features that make your home look dated (and what you can do about them.

3 Features That Make Your Home Look Dated – and What to Replace Them With

Though every home is different, if your house has any of these features, it may be time to think about making some updates:

  • Wall-to-wall carpet
  • Gold-toned faucets and fixtures
  • Light wood-toned cabinetry

Scroll down for a closer look at each, plus solutions.

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Dated Home Trend #1: Wall-to-Wall Carpet

Carpet is out. Buyers want hardwoods, tile or just about anything other than carpet – and it doesn’t look like hard-top flooring is going away any time soon. If your home features a lot of carpet, your REALTOR® may suggest that you replace some or all of it with fresher flooring options, or that you offer buyers a credit so they can choose their own flooring after the sale’s a done deal. If you can’t afford to re-floor the whole house, that’s okay, too; your agent will most likely suggest that you focus on the most important spaces, such as the living room and dining room.

Related: 10 real estate terms sellers need to know

Dated Home Trend #2: Gold-Toned (and Brushed Bronze) Faucets and Fixtures

Gold-toned faucets and fixtures are definitely out, and though there are some spaces where they look great – such as vintage-style rooms – most buyers don’t want them. To be clear, there’s a difference between modern brass or brushed bronze faucets, cabinet handles or drawer pulls in specific rooms and their 90s-style counterparts. If you have the latter, it’s likely time for an upgrade with a more timeless look. You can head to your favorite home improvement store and check out your options – you may be surprised to discover that you can replace what you have for under $100 (and that replacement may even be a DIY job for you).

Related: Want to overpay for your next home? Here’s how

Dated Home Trend #3: Light Wood-Toned Cabinetry

Light, wood-toned cabinets don’t hold the allure they once did. Today’s buyers are looking for clean, fresh styles. You may not need to replace your cabinets entirely, either – if they’re in great shape, you’ll likely be able to simply stain or paint them in a new color. Staining and painting can be DIY jobs, or you can hire a professional to tackle the task for you. Just remember: If you’re staining or painting your cabinets, you absolutely must take the doors off your cabinets before you get to work. You can’t take any shortcuts, or your cabinets will end up looking worse than they did before you “improved” them.

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Listing courtesy of GarySchnell from SELL4FREE-WELSH REALTY CORPORATION.

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