The real estate agent is bringing a potential buyer to see your 1970s house. You’ve never updated your home’s decor because you love its retro look. Unfortunately, that buyer may see nothing but remodeling expenses around every corner. What should you do about outdated home decor?
The “dirty dozen” of outdated home decor
Older homes reflect all sorts of design trends that are no longer stylish, but buyers may find the following features particularly unappealing.
- Popcorn ceilings are passe and often cannot be scraped off. If installed before 1980, the material may contain asbestos, and remediation to remove it will be expensive.
- Wall-to-wall carpet harbors dust, pollen, and other indoor allergens, is expensive to clean and can look tired. Hard surface floors predominate now, are cheaper to clean, and do not harbor airborne irritants.
- Vinyl flooring screams 1970s. Today’s LVP floors are also easy to maintain but have a much more modern look.
- Bold wallpaper and borders with their swirling paisleys, twining flower prints and Dickens-era Victorian carriage scenes date a house. Today’s buyers want walls painted in understated neutral colors or papered in patterns that don’t beg for attention.
- Wood-paneled walls have been kicked to the curb alongside loud wallpaper.
- Garden tubs in the primary bathroom were popular from the 1970s through the early 2000s. But how often do you draw up 50 gallons of water for a bath? Homeowners rarely use these tubs, and they take up valuable floor space.
- Floor-length lined curtains dampen natural lighting. Today’s homes feature window treatments that offer privacy but let in lots of outdoor light.
- Half-walls in entryways and baths serve no purpose. It’s better to go all in on the open concept and ditch them.
- Top-to-bottom mirrored sliding closet doors make a room look bigger but are out of style.
- Analog thermostats with sliding tabs have been replaced with smart home thermostats that lower monthly energy bills.
- Carpeted bathrooms were never a good idea. If the bathtub or toilet overflows – yikes!
- Tile countertops can crack, and homeowners have to scrub grout lines to remove food stains.
Should you remodel before selling?
If you are about to list a home with outdated decor, it’s best to let potential buyers decide what to remodel after they own the house. Be prepared, however, to make price or other concessions to seal the deal on a dated house. A better option is to freshen outdated home decor long before you sell so that you can enjoy the new look.
Related – Should You Remodel Before Selling Your Home?
