What Buyers Mean When They Say a Home Feels Dated

A buyer touring a 1978 split-level notices the brass fixtures, wall-to-wall carpeting, and kitchen cabinets that have been there for decades. Nothing is necessarily wrong with the house. It just looks like the owners haven't changed much since moving in.

You'll see examples of this when browsing homes for sale in Detroit Lakes or Edina. Some older properties have aged beautifully. Others have perfectly functional features that buyers would probably change after moving in. Sellers need to know the difference before deciding where to spend their money.

It's Rarely About How Old It Is

A 1920s bungalow with original hardwoods and updated mechanical systems can be more appealing than a 2005 colonial with builder-grade oak cabinets and brass hardware. The bungalow has older features, but they belong in the house. The colonial may simply look like nobody has touched it since it was built.

That doesn't mean the kitchen needs to be gutted. If the cabinet boxes are solid and the layout works, replacing the doors or hardware may be enough. New countertops could help, depending on what's there now.

Sellers sometimes assume they need to make everything look new. But removing original details that suit the house can be just as unnecessary as replacing a kitchen that's still in good condition.

The Usual Suspects

In homes around the Twin Cities, a few familiar features tend to give away the last time someone redecorated:

• Oak or cherry cabinets paired with dark countertops

• Brass or gold fixtures throughout the kitchen and bathrooms

• Carpet in dining rooms and hallways

• Heavy curtains or valances that cover much of the windows

• Popcorn ceilings and older ceiling fans

Some of these are easy fixes. Removing heavy window treatments costs almost nothing. Changing cabinet hardware takes an afternoon, provided the new pieces fit the existing holes.

Others deserve more thought. Painting cabinets isn't always the right answer, particularly when the original wood is attractive and in good shape. And popcorn ceilings in older homes may contain asbestos, so disturbing them without proper testing isn't advisable.

Look at each room separately rather than assuming everything from a particular decade has to go.

Take a Good Look at the Lighting

Think about the fixtures in a typical 1990s kitchen. There might be a fluorescent ceiling box, a brass light over the table, and small fixtures above the sink. Even after the walls are painted, those lights can make the room look much the same as it did 25 years ago.

Fortunately, you can change the lighting without remodeling the kitchen.

Start with whatever catches your eye when you enter. In some homes, that's a dining room chandelier. In others, it's a bathroom vanity fixture with a row of exposed bulbs.

Where To Start

• Entryway: Look up when you walk through the front door. An older chandelier may stand out more than you realize.

• Kitchen: Fluorescent ceiling boxes and older pendant lights can give away a kitchen's age.

• Bathrooms: Check for vanity fixtures with worn finishes, mismatched bulbs, or dated glass shades.

• Exterior: Make sure the porch and garage lights work properly and aren't showing years of wear.

Don't overlook the bulbs. A room with warm yellow lighting in one corner and bright white lighting in another can look odd during a showing. It's better to have reasonably consistent lighting that suits the space.

And before buying new fixtures, open the curtains and blinds. Sometimes the room doesn't need more artificial light. It just needs more daylight.

What's Under That Carpet?

Carpet in a dining room can make buyers wonder what the flooring looks like underneath. In an older home, there may be a pleasant surprise. Some houses have hardwood floors that were covered during an earlier renovation. If you're lucky, the wood may be in good enough condition to refinish.

Check an inconspicuous area near a floor register or along the edge of a closet. You may be able to see what's underneath without pulling up much carpet. A flooring professional can give you a better idea of the condition and the work involved.

Of course, not every house has hidden hardwood. Sometimes there's only subflooring, and installing new floors isn't in the budget.

In that case, judge the carpet you have. Is it stained? Flattened in high-traffic areas? An unusual color that dominates the room? Those are more compelling reasons to replace it than its age alone.

A clean, neutral carpet in a bedroom is unlikely to be as distracting as worn carpeting throughout the main living areas.

What Buyers See Before They Come Inside

You may have stopped noticing the faded house numbers or the shrub that's grown halfway across the front walk. A buyer seeing the property for the first time won't have that same familiarity.

Take a look at the front of the house from the street. Better yet, walk up the driveway and toward the entry as though you're visiting for the first time.

Are the shrubs crowding the windows? Does the front door need paint? Has the porch light seen better days? Before spending money on elaborate landscaping, handle the smaller things:

• Trim shrubs that cover windows or crowd walkways

• Clean up planting beds and add mulch when the season allows

• Touch up peeling paint around the front door and trim

• Replace broken or difficult-to-read house numbers

• Wash dirty siding and walkways where appropriate

A new mailbox won't sell a house on its own. Neither will a freshly painted door. But several small maintenance issues in the same area can leave buyers wondering how much attention the rest of the property has received.

Before You Start Replacing Things

There's a good chance some of the older features in your home are perfectly fine. Original hardwood, solid wood cabinets, and traditional trim may appeal to buyers, particularly when they suit the style of the property.

Call today to talk with an agent about your home and how it compares with other properties buyers are considering.