Why are homes in the DMV not nice?

Anonymous
Even higher end/more expensive homes in McLean, Potomac etc. have poor finishings, bad landscaping, mediocre appliances etc.

Compared to nicer suburbs around LA, NYC, Miami or other metro areas (even Charleston homes tend to be nicer) it appears as if people in this area either have no clue how to make a place "nice" or don't care to?

Is it because it's transient so they don't want to put in a La Cornue range when a Wolf would do?

They don't want to spend $$$ on proper high end landscaping which may take years to come in?

Interested in any other thoughts!
Anonymous
Why would a La Cornue make a house any nicer? I’m perfectly happy with my Bluestar.
Anonymous
Nice is subjective. The end.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Nice is subjective. The end.


+1000
Anonymous
none of them anywhere are nice, take a look at PA houses and RI houses and MA houses all trash, they're polishing turds and selling them it's not just in this area.
Anonymous
People here in general don’t care about looks and aesthetics like people in those other cities might. Just like the people aren’t that into fashion around here, they’re not into glamorous homes.
Anonymous
Everything is really expensive here, and most people are transient, so there is really no need to waste all that money if you are leaving anyhow.

I didn't understand until we bought here (we are in the under 800k price range) but now I do -- it's just too expensive to live here AND fix up your house.
Anonymous
Handymen charge a fortune here compared to other places
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Everything is really expensive here, and most people are transient, so there is really no need to waste all that money if you are leaving anyhow.

I didn't understand until we bought here (we are in the under 800k price range) but now I do -- it's just too expensive to live here AND fix up your house.


Yes, this! Sure, I wanted our landscaping and back patio to look a little more inspiring but we are talking 10s of thousands of dollars to do that. It's just not worth it, especially when you know it isn't a forever home.
Anonymous
The DWs, like the DHs, are at work all day at a law firm or think tank or association or whatever. No time or inclination toward "garden club" or aiming at an appearance in Architectural Digest. And culturally, this stuff just isn't outsourced; not to the degree it would be in other places, such as the ones you cite (NYC, LA, Charleston, etc.). Appearances just don't matter as much here (and, arguably, people lack taste anyway); see DC fashion.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Handymen charge a fortune here compared to other places


+1 other cities have more immigrant labor
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Why would a La Cornue make a house any nicer? I’m perfectly happy with my Bluestar.


Bluestars are an underrated flex TBH. I tend to think they are a IYKYK brand. La Cornue says look I burned a pile of money on something for my French country kitchen.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Even higher end/more expensive homes in McLean, Potomac etc. have poor finishings, bad landscaping, mediocre appliances etc.

Compared to nicer suburbs around LA, NYC, Miami or other metro areas (even Charleston homes tend to be nicer) it appears as if people in this area either have no clue how to make a place "nice" or don't care to?

Is it because it's transient so they don't want to put in a La Cornue range when a Wolf would do?

They don't want to spend $$$ on proper high end landscaping which may take years to come in?

Interested in any other thoughts!


My thought is that these posts are usually started by people who can't afford a high-end house in the DC area and seek to make themselves feel better by getting some others to agree it doesn't matter anyway.

In other words, YAWN.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Nice is subjective. The end.


Not really.

I can tell the difference between the decor in a falling-down-shack where addicts live and the only furniture is a card table and a literally rotting arm chair, and the home of a Kardashian. It's an extreme example, but reflects that this is objective. One can account for taste, of course. But there is nice and not nice.

Perhaps you meant "relative" instead of subjective.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Nice is subjective. The end.

False. Your vinyl crap house with 2 car garage front and center, full of mdf and builder grade everything is objectively awful and probably makes you feel low grade ill all the time.
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