Why are homes in the DMV not nice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Handymen charge a fortune here compared to other places

Now that's a fact. I was born and raised in NYC and still go back to visit to see family. In NYC you can find a handyman at all price points. Over here, no matter how big or small the project is there is always some obscene minimum cost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Handymen charge a fortune here compared to other places

This. And the landscapers are awful. Do you think I want to do all my yard work at 64? No. But every time I hire it out it’s done not only incorrectly but destructively. Shrubs are pruned wrong, lighting wires are cut, mulch is piled too high, perennials are pulled out or round up is sprayed and it kills everything in its path, including things it shouldn’t. I once had a witch hazel killed because it was cut off near the ground - that was the pruning. They cut it down. And the large climbing antique rose was severed mid trunk and left to die.

The worst part about the landscapers is they'll charge exorbitant fees but then do the absolute bare minimum. They'll do the service you're paying for and won't even make suggestions on how to keep the grass looking healthier and vibrant even if it means they can charge for another service. They don't care about the state of the grass. We had one service come through and mow too soon after a rainstorm (we weren't home) only to leave pits and tracks in the grass. They took off and didn't say a word about. It was like to them they mowed and trimmed and what they actually left the lawn looking like didn't matter. Ultimately, we had to let them go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I visit my family in the Chicago suburbs and it’s very striking to me how much better their houses in regular middle class to upper middle class neighborhoods are. The houses are simply way better quality- quieter, better quality finishes. You can’t hear street noise because the house is tight (a major annoyance in my own home). The neighborhoods have a more cohesive aesthetic where the houses are different but compliment each other. There’s more brick houses, houses are larger. The landscaping is nicer. These are neighborhoods comparable to Bethesda, McLean, Arlington, etc.

Comparing a city run by government to anywhere else and you’re wondering why the city run by government looks incompetently managed?

[Anonymous]

What if it’s because Home Depot only stocks Mdf in DC but real finishes elsewhere

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Handymen charge a fortune here compared to other places

It is always amusing when the poors think handymen maintain LaCornue ranges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if it’s because Home Depot only stocks Mdf in DC but real finishes elsewhere

I think you just figured it out And this MDF is priced differently depending on where you are taking it The prices are calculated after your delivery based on your GPS location of drop off. At least this is what builder prices to build identical homes in diff areas make you believe.

[Anonymous]

Someone hasn’t actually shopped for La Cornue or Wolf - they’re relatively comparable price-wise (sizes and features vary, of course).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone hasn’t actually shopped for La Cornue or Wolf - they’re relatively comparable price-wise (sizes and features vary, of course).

Aren't they wildly different looking? I wouldn't be cross shopping these two based on looks alone

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone hasn’t actually shopped for La Cornue or Wolf - they’re relatively comparable price-wise (sizes and features vary, of course).

Aren't they wildly different looking? I wouldn't be cross shopping these two based on looks alone

Agreed. I think they just reflect different aesthetics and priorities. The people I know who are interested in Wolf want a kitchen that looks like a professional kitchen, like what you'd find in a high restaurant. Modern and high end but also practical, easy to clean, not overly decorated.

La Cornue is for people who are looking for a *very* decorated aesthetic, where the kitchen feels more like another room in the house with art and personalized details.

I don't view one as nicer than the other, just different vibes and interests.

[Anonymous]

I think it's because DC area just doesn't have beauty or aesthetics high on the list of cultural priorities. This area's culture is very cerebral; you have lots of intellectuals, writers, politicians, class captain and wonk types. We don't have a design/arts/fashion community to speak of, this is just not a DC thing. People with money tend to be a two-career household and there just isn't the same house-proud/garden tour circuit here outside of Georgetown/Alexandria, because people are just too busy. That's not to say we don't have beautiful or well decorated houses here and there. It's to say this area isn't focused on beauty.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Using a professional decorator is a game changer, along with renovating dated kitchens and bathrooms, replacing uninspired fixtures, and upgrading lighting plans in general. I think many people who buy expensive homes balk at seeking professional help and spending significant amounts on furnishings and decor, and that shows.

We’ve got young kids and an old dog. One day we’ll use a professional decorator and spend a lot on nice furniture. Today is not that day.

And you’ve answered OP’s question. Many people never get to that “one day” or they move and focus on their new home. If most of your neighbors are of the same mindset, there’s no social pressure to up the ante. In some places and circles, splurging on interiors is what people do. It sounds like DMV is not one of them.

Again, it's complete BS. Depends on the area affluence. People who buy new multimillion dollar homes or estates absolutely keep spending on their homes after their purchase. There is new furniture delivered, designer lighting in these houses, landscaping work done all the time and trucks coming and going. But, it's become a luxury here to renovate. The difference is stark when you go into more working class areas where more and more homes appear to be rundown and in disrepair, and next to them new construction homes are going up already.

There’s a difference between someone who walks into an Arhaus or RH and buys a bunch of furniture for their new build and someone who hires a decorator. Very few people I know in Arlington actually invest in the interiors of their homes - it’s very hard to choose appropriate sized furnishings, the correct colors (hence why so many houses are bland white/tan/neutral, and layer the necessary textures and finishes.

No decorator will make the house nice if the bones are not nice. Ceiling height, layout, enfilade axis, door height, window height, trim and woodwork, everything that makes the house "nice" vs standard issue isn't the province of a decorator.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's because DC area just doesn't have beauty or aesthetics high on the list of cultural priorities. This area's culture is very cerebral; you have lots of intellectuals, writers, politicians, class captain and wonk types. We don't have a design/arts/fashion community to speak of, this is just not a DC thing. People with money tend to be a two-career household and there just isn't the same house-proud/garden tour circuit here outside of Georgetown/Alexandria, because people are just too busy. That's not to say we don't have beautiful or well decorated houses here and there. It's to say this area isn't focused on beauty.

This is spot on.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on what range homes you are talking about:
- Yes, multimillion dollar homes should look great in all ways.
- Under a million? Those are normal homes and people who own them will typically have to prioritize savings over renovations and decor, which is the sound and responsible thing to do.

I’m from Atlanta originally and you find attractive housing at all prices. If it has been renovated since the HGTV era, it looks good. The quality of the renovation may vary based on price, and it may be obvious if you’re in the space, but it will look great in a picture. I largely think it’s a reflection of labor costs and priorities. I love telling my sister in Atlanta about the quotes I get - she’s always shocked and appalled. I don’t think she’s ever done a house project that cost more than 10K, and she’s had major work done (adding bathrooms, finishing her basement, etc). At the prices we’re quoted here, I’m constantly asking myself whether it’s worth it. With the purely cosmetic work, it often isn’t.

Atlanta + HGTV = we are not working from the same definition of "nice"

The housing stock in Atlanta is beautiful. Go browse homes in buckhead or Druid hills on Redfin.

That’s no different than just looking at DC homes in Spring Valley or Georgetown or CC MD which everyone agrees (I think on this thread) is nice stock.

Those areas are literally premium big mansion parts of Atlanta. We have tons of this in Mclean and Great Falls, in similar woodsy hilly setting. It's really not this much different. I've been there.

Agreed. People are comparing the nicest areas/suburbs of these other cities to middle of the road areas of Rockville or Bethesda. Atlanta has many neighborhoods and suburbs with crappy housing too! As does every US city.

[Anonymous]

You’re not finding this in whatever gauche suburb of Atlanta you all are talking about.

https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/3117-O-St-NW-20007/home/9928047