We asked area realtors and home remodelers what’s in and what’s out in home buying, selling and remodeling.
Realtors say the No. 1 factor for home buyers right now is price value. (“Buyers want to know why a house is worth its asking price,” says Barbara Swadburg.)
Contractors say the biggest trend in home remodeling now is that homeowners are starting to do it again. (“There’s more interest in remodeling these days than in the past five years,” according to Mel Salmi of Transformed Tree.)
Here is the Bugle list of what’s in, what’s out and what will drive a buyer away from a house that’s on the market:
In
Home gathering spaces that emanate from the kitchen
Cabinetry with contrasting woods and colors
More windows and a bigger connection to the outdoors
Screened porches
Cambria (natural stone) countertops
LED light bulbs
Gas fireplaces
Stand-alone tubs
Air tubs (Different from whirlpools, air tubs jet steady streams of air into a tub rather than circulate a mixture of water and air.)
Location, location, location
Out
Formica or laminate countertops
Vinyl flooring
Whirlpool tubs
Floral print wallpaper
Carpet in the bathroom and kitchen
Deal breakers
Foundation issues
Pet smells
Overpricing
Wet, moldy basement
Wallpaper
Busy street
Deferred maintenance
Large ticket items such as the need for a new furnace or roof
Realtors Nancy Meeden (Coldwell Banker Burnet), Barbara Swadburg (Lynden Realty), Peter Sparr (Edina Realty) and Steve Townley (RE/MAX) and contractors Mel Salmi (Transformed Tree) and John Guider (Heritage Remodeling) contributed to these lists.
