How to see the potential in an older home

Some people live for finding the perfect ‘fixer-upper’; desperate for somewhere they can make their mark. Other home buyers want to walk into a blank canvas, and sometimes it’s hard to see the wood for the trees. The outdated paint colours, fixtures and even appliances in older homes can scare off potential buyers. But making cosmetic changes to update the home to your taste might be more affordable than you’d expect. It’s all a matter of seeing the potential in older homes.

Here are our quick tips for seeing the potential in an older home:

1. Ignore their style choices.
   The horrible sofa and patterned curtains don’t have to stay! Don’t look at the dressings, look at the ‘bones’ behind it all. Look at the structure – the roof, windows and doors. Then use your imagination for how the space could look with your furniture and curtains.
2. Overlook old smells.
   It’s hard to feel positive about a house when you walk in and it smells musty or stale. But unless the home report reveals something serious, you can probably make an “old-smelling” house smell nice in a weekend. Once the curtains, carpets and furniture are gone, most of the time the smells go too.
3. Ignore the colours.

Viewers are often distracted by the paint colours and wallpaper that are in an old house. But how silly would it be to pass up the home of your dreams because of something that could be changed for a few pounds and an afternoon’s work?! So don’t judge a house by its colours!

4. See beyond the clutter.

It’s hard to picture living in a room that’s overfilled by someone else’s knick-knacks! Our advice? Bring a measuring tape when you view to give yourself a clear idea of what would fit where. Just be careful not to knock over the ornaments!

5. Look at the features.

Whether it’s a gorgeous fireplace, a big window with a view, or some original coving – try to focus on the things that make up the personality of the house. Look for things you couldn’t add easily to another home.

If you’re struggling, call us for advice. We’ll be happy to talk to you about the property’s potential or find an alternative property from our extensive portfolio.