Being a nosey real estate agent, I can't resist looking at new homes. Today we stopped by to look at a house that had a beautiful floor plan, but the owners really made a mess on the inside by cutting corners in some very dumb places.
First, today's buyers want a spectacular kitchen and master bath. This house had all the right elements. The owners, however, cut corners in some very noticeable places. Their choices on where to save a few hundred dollars will cost them tens of thousands at resale time.
Here's just a few of the things they did. First, they installed quality light fixtures and an attractive hardwood floor. In the great room however, they decided to install a paint grade fireplace mantle adjacent to the beautiful built-in alder wood cabinets. What a hodge-podge. In the master bath, which should have been gorgeous, they opted for paint grade cabinets with cultured marble tops. There's nothing wrong with this look--it's just what you would expect to see in a secondary bedroom or in a low end condo--not in a custom home. Furthermore, the builder in this particular subdivision provides granite and hardwood cabinets as a standard feature in their homes. These folks actually took a downgrade to make these changes.
Bottom line--if you or your clients are building, remember what matters most to your buyers--a great kitchen and a great master. These are not the places to cut corners. If they're over budget, cut back in the secondary bedrooms and baths.
Posted by Bernice Ross, author of List and Sell Real Estate Like Crazy
Comments