how much do paint choices and fixtures (lighting, sink, bath) matter to buyers? (near NoVA)

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[Post New]06/10/2016 12:02
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Anonymous
We have a house that is in dire need of updates to lighting as well as a kitchen update and an interior paint refresh. We plan to live in the house for 1-2 years, but want to both enjoy it for the remainder of time we are here and be sell-ready when we want to put in an offer. I really love modern brushed brass and would love to use it in the kitchen and bath, and/or for light fixtures in the house, but I am interested to hear if that may be a turn off for buyers (too trendy). Also, I love stark white walls (scandinavian look), but wonder if that's too cold for showing a house. I get that all of these can be changed out by a buyer, but we want to show the house as move in ready when all updates are made and don't want to make choices that are too polarizing.

If you think there are better choices, please offer suggestions.

For what its worth, we are in an area of Alexandria that mostly attracts a younger crowd for starter purchases due to being a 2 BR.
[Post New]06/10/2016 12:09
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LoveLiveMusicDad
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Buy the speakman shower head. Same one as used in high end hotels. You will love it and it actually helps on resale value. It blasts you into the back of the wall. As for paint, unless it's automatically "move in" ready, people will not go nuts on resale. Fixtures like an island kitchen, double opening refrigerator, gas stove and a kick ass front loading washer/dryer add value to a home.
[Post New]06/10/2016 12:09
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Anonymous
I think that if you are selling in a year or two, people won't be turned off by anything that is trendy today. And I love white walls anyway. That said, brass is SO trendy. Even you might be tired of it in a year.
[Post New]06/10/2016 12:11
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Anonymous
OP, I would love to see those finishes in a home I am about to bid on, and I think they're neutral and clean looking and won't be a turn off.
[Post New]06/10/2016 12:13
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Anonymous
White walls would be fine.

Brass is ugly even if itnis trendy for now. Brass would be a turn off for me.
[Post New]06/10/2016 12:14
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Anonymous
LoveLiveMusicDad wrote:Buy the speakman shower head. Same one as used in high end hotels. You will love it and it actually helps on resale value. It blasts you into the back of the wall. As for paint, unless it's automatically "move in" ready, people will not go nuts on resale. Fixtures like an island kitchen, double opening refrigerator, gas stove and a kick ass front loading washer/dryer add value to a home.


+1 on all of that, Speakman showerhead included. Go ahead and get the cool hardware if you have the house to pull it off. Ditto the paint: unless you have a modern home and modern cabinets and furniture to get the whole look, slightly off-white paint is probably safer than stark white. For lighting, do recessed. Everyone has different tastes in pendants so go cheap but stylish since it will likely get replaced away.
[Post New]06/10/2016 12:14
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Anonymous
I don't love brass, but light and plumbing fixtures are easy enough to replace, so it wouldn't dissuade a purchase decision. I also love color, but again, I'd rather deal with white walls than some of the horrific color choices you can find in some listings.
[Post New]06/10/2016 12:15
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Anonymous
Those sound like lovely choices.
[Post New]06/10/2016 12:18
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Anonymous
Go for it, OP! It will look fresh and serious buyers will be able to see through paint and fixtures. As long as it looks refreshed, you can't go wrong.
[Post New]06/10/2016 12:46
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Anonymous
I love the current brass trend that's going on right now, but... OP it sounds like your house is pretty un-updated, and you're just talking about doing a couple superficial fixes. In which case I would not do the current brass trend. The brass thing looks good in a home that has an overall well designed scheme. But if you had an older house that hasn't been updated, say 1990s kitchen cabs, it would look weird to put trendy brass fixtures on. You should be doing updated but neutral finishes - basic chrome modern cabinet pulls, for instance. But definitely do white walls. White is very trendy but also very neutral and objectively flattering. I think houses objectively look better with white walls for resale purposes -- though brighter colors may speak to us personally.
[Post New]06/10/2016 12:58
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I love the current brass trend that's going on right now, but... OP it sounds like your house is pretty un-updated, and you're just talking about doing a couple superficial fixes. In which case I would not do the current brass trend. The brass thing looks good in a home that has an overall well designed scheme. But if you had an older house that hasn't been updated, say 1990s kitchen cabs, it would look weird to put trendy brass fixtures on. You should be doing updated but neutral finishes - basic chrome modern cabinet pulls, for instance. But definitely do white walls. White is very trendy but also very neutral and objectively flattering. I think houses objectively look better with white walls for resale purposes -- though brighter colors may speak to us personally.


I should have said that we will be updating the kitchen (not that the kitchen needs updating and we are leaving as is)! We plan to go with white cabinets either in flat or shaker finish.
[Post New]06/10/2016 13:06
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Anonymous
Thanks everyone!
[Post New]06/10/2016 13:16
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Anonymous
Ok- Just my opinion:

Brass aka gold-colored fixtures are awful and horribly dated. We bought a house and have been systematically removing all the brass from the early 90s, replacing doorknobs, light plates, shower and tub pieces, and light fixtures. Pretty sure the "gold" look was a huge turn off to most people who looked at the house. We have replaced at least 8 light fixtures which is NBD to us, but for most people an electrician would probably charge them a TON. Our neighbors seemed confused that we could do it ourselves. lol.

I think white walls are a huge turnoff as well.

I think a nice neutral wood cabinet will look a lot nicer and appeal to more buyers than white cabinets.

A small percent of buyers can look past the cosmetics, the majority will not.
[Post New]06/10/2016 13:35
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Ok- Just my opinion:

Brass aka gold-colored fixtures are awful and horribly dated. We bought a house and have been systematically removing all the brass from the early 90s, replacing doorknobs, light plates, shower and tub pieces, and light fixtures. Pretty sure the "gold" look was a huge turn off to most people who looked at the house. We have replaced at least 8 light fixtures which is NBD to us, but for most people an electrician would probably charge them a TON. Our neighbors seemed confused that we could do it ourselves. lol.

I think white walls are a huge turnoff as well.

I think a nice neutral wood cabinet will look a lot nicer and appeal to more buyers than white cabinets.

A small percent of buyers can look past the cosmetics, the majority will not.


I think this person maybe hasn't been in a house designed in the last 10 years?

"brass aka gold-colored fixtures" are indeed awful and horribly dated. OP is talking about the current brass/bronze trend that is very popular. Less 80s and more Hollywood regency glam.

Most people may not ultimately want white walls in their home, but a well chosen designer white (not builders grade white) will be very good for resale. As will a light (light!) grey or greige. This colors are neutral and allow people to envision their own finishings. They also make the house seem bigger, brighter and cleaner (assuming they are well maintained). 90% of home buyers will also want to paint no matter what, and will recognize that it is much easier to paint white walls compared to if the sellers had painted everything darker.

A nice neutral wood cabinet appeals to a good percentage of buyers, but a white cabinet will, in today's market appeal to more buyers. White is considered a very safe cabinet choice right now. Woods are starting to turn a lot more people off. Yes, some people are turned off by white. But less are turned off by white than by wood. Choose white for resale purposes.
[Post New]06/10/2016 13:38
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Ok- Just my opinion:

Brass aka gold-colored fixtures are awful and horribly dated. We bought a house and have been systematically removing all the brass from the early 90s, replacing doorknobs, light plates, shower and tub pieces, and light fixtures. Pretty sure the "gold" look was a huge turn off to most people who looked at the house. We have replaced at least 8 light fixtures which is NBD to us, but for most people an electrician would probably charge them a TON. Our neighbors seemed confused that we could do it ourselves. lol.

I think white walls are a huge turnoff as well.

I think a nice neutral wood cabinet will look a lot nicer and appeal to more buyers than white cabinets.

A small percent of buyers can look past the cosmetics, the majority will not.


I would prefer you not do anything. I'd tear it out too. Not sure why this poster says neighbors are confused at DIY. Several of ours DIY, including us and its no big deal. I don't care about paint color as that is a cheap change. I care about cabinets but I'd rather have white than a light color. I'd prefer dark wood.

Bottomline, is you cannot please everyone so do it for you and let the change it or leave it and let the next owner deal with it.
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