5 Things That Make Your House Dated

By: Susan Kadilak

Not too long ago I received a call from a homeowner who was looking to sell.  I asked her to tell me a little bit about her home and she started to talk about all of the work they had done, including renovating the kitchen.  She went on and on about how the kitchen was brand new and barely used.  When I arrived at the house this is what I found:

The “Brand New” Kitchen

I find that when homeowners were the ones who did a renovation themselves, as opposed to a previous owner, they often feel that upgrades are “new” longer than the rest of the world.

Here is a list of 5 features that make a home feel dated, even if it still feels new to you:

1 – Square 4×4 Tiles In Blue, Pink, Green, Gold, Black… Any Color Really!  If you are still sporting these babies in your kitchen or bathroom, you can put money on the fact that it makes your home look dated, even if they are in great condition.

The Double Whammy- Green with Black Accent Tiles

2. Dark Trim: Natural or stained trim is often viewed as old fashioned, and not in a good “vintage-y” kind of way.  There are some home buyers who won’t even consider looking at a house that doesn’t have white trim.

Painting The Trim Immediately Updates Any Space

3. Square 12×12 Tiles: The glory days for these puppies are over!  Installing plain-jane squares in a brand new space will send you back in time at least 15 years.

Fancy 12×12’s On A Diamond Pattern In This Almost 40 Year Old Kitchen!

4. Wallpaper:  Busy prints, peeling paper, or – the worst offense- painted over paper, are all things that will make people do a double take… and it’s not because they like your wallpaper…

5. Laminate Countertops:  Besides being prone to damage from spills, high heat, and chipping, these counters can take you all the way back to the Brady bunch.  Right now quartz is reigning supreme as the popular countertop choice, but even granite is a better option than laminate.  As a bonus, stone counters are often very competitive on pricing so you can get a far superior (and more updated) finish by skipping this old favorite.

Even The Backsplash!

Depending on how they are implemented, timeless and classic finishes can look modern and fresh for as long as 20 years.  Finishes that are trendy (think crazy colors and patterns) can look dated in as little as 5-10 years.

We often tell clients that if they want to go trendy, do it somewhere that is easily swapped out.  For example, if you like black accents, do them on the counters and light fixtures as opposed to doing black cabinets and flooring.  It is much less expensive to replace countertops in 10 years than it is to replace all of your cabinetry.

Want to know more on how to update your home before selling? Fill out the form below!

Susan Kadilak – Owner / Broker