Out Of Date Real Estate
As with any other possession, whether it's clothing or cars,
there are trends in real estate that come and go. These trends
eventually make their way down through the levels of home
ownership, and mark a property as "clearly hot" or "clearly
not." If you're planning on selling or buying, it might be wise
to take a look at current "out" trends such as these.
First of all, swimming pools? Not such a big deal anymore. More
home buyers today are thrilled with a huge backyard, and not as
thrilled with the fact that it's taken up by a huge tiled pool.
Although once the symbol of opulent luxury, a swimming pool in
the backyard nowadays tends to label your property. It makes it
suitable for a certain type of buyer- and the right buyer may
very well pay big bucks for it- but it can take away from the
general market appeal of a home. Today's family wants a big yard
with lots of potential for landscaping, jungle gyms, or gardens;
and an inset swimming pool removes that potential.
Another trend that is suddenly disappearing from the market is
the age-old trend of bay windows. These high-maintenance
windows, while beautiful from both inside and out, can be a
negative on today's market. That doesn't mean having one will
lower your property value, but if you're considering installing
one, you might want to think again. The more glass in a window,
the more likely it is to break, be broken into, and leak warm
air during the cold months. If you have a bay window, make sure
it's properly
sealed and has good insulation, and try to plate
it with the heaviest glass you can afford.
Another "trend" on its way out, although it's so old it can
hardly be called a trend, is carpeting. Home owners today are
conscious of the fact that carpet styles come and go, but wood
floors will always remain. Carpeted rooms require more
maintenance than wood floors, and cost more money; a carpet
wears out and goes out of style much more quickly than a wood
floor. If your house has carpet over floors that you'd just as
soon not expose, installing wood floors for the sake of higher
property value can be a tremendous expense. In that case, the
shrewd home seller may simply choose to re-carpet. If you go
this direction, make sure to pick a durable carpet that wears
well and doesn't adhere to any particular style.
Whether you're buying, selling, or building, the best advice is
to keep an eye open for what's popular today, and use those
trends as starting points when it comes to making decisions
about your house. Each property is different, and each home
owner has his own sense of style. In the end, regardless of
trends, it all boils down to what works for the home, as well as
for the people living inside it.
About the author:
Kirsten Hawkins is a real estate expert from Nashville, TN.
Visit http://www.king-of-real-estate.com/ for more information
on real estate, mortgages, and finding the house of your dream.
Written by: Kirsten Hawkins
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