Reply-To: "Merilee Kern" From: "Merilee Kern" To: "Elaine Williamson" , Subject: Philly.com Placement Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2011 22:11:30 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0198_01CBC7DD.235C6A30"; type="multipart/alternative" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.5931 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.5994 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0198_01CBC7DD.235C6A30 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0199_01CBC7DD.235C6A30" ------=_NextPart_001_0199_01CBC7DD.235C6A30 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable http://www.philly.com/philly/home/CTW_home_20110203_Simplicity_sells.html= Posted on Thu, Feb. 3, 2011=20 Simplicity sells Dawn Klingensmith=20 CTW Features Architecture or interior design that calls to mind better economic times = might actually be turnoffs to homebuyers. Opulence is out. Just try selling a mini-castle in this market. Real estate broker Marian = Anthony, of Anthony Realty Group in San Diego, Calif., listed such a = home, knowing it would be a tough sell. "In this market, people aren't looking at it," Anthony says. "It's not = seen as practical. It seems extravagant. People don't like to display = evidence of wealth in their houses anymore." They say everything's bigger in Texas, but demand there is shrinking for = opulent homes, too. "There are a lot of castle-like homes here, but they don't seem = impressive anymore. They seem gaudier," says Dallas-based interior = designer Elaine Williamson. Soaring cathedral ceilings and whirlpool tubs that can accommodate Shamu = aren't necessarily selling points. They are "bells and whistles," = Williamson says, and while they used to be alluring, today's buyers find = them unnecessary. "There's no point in spending money on things you don't end up using," = she says. While whirlpool tubs aren't necessarily a liability, their popularity is = waning, and they are no longer considered a must-have. "Now, soaker or bubble tubs will do," says realtor Eileen Casey of = Prudential Rubloff Properties in Chicago. Luxury is out, eco-friendly is in "Granite countertops and stainless steel appliances were very popular in = the past," Casey adds, "But now more eco-friendly countertops and = energy-saving appliances and fixtures are in, along with other = eco-friendly choices. "Energy costs are rising," Casey continues. "People are more interested = in options that can save them money while also being gentle on the = environment." Homebuyers expect value, not rock-bottom pricing. They won't settle for = shoddy construction or low-end materials. But "less is more" is the = prevailing philosophy among buyers and owners alike. "Most of my clients would rather have a smaller home with better-quality = finishes than a large house with spec home amenities," says interior = decorator Dana Wolter of Birmingham, Ala. Sellers of large homes should try to create an atmosphere where buyers = can envision themselves having casual, intimate gatherings, Wolter says. = Formal rooms can be uninviting if not off-putting. The backyard should tie in visually with the interior and look like = viable and welcoming living space. "Many people want to utilize every square inch of their home," Wolter = says. Fussy or trendy design features should be switched out or played down. = Buyers want classic features that will stand the test of time. Declutter, but don't don't go overboard Mini-castle owners should not go to the extreme of tearing out their = luxury amenities. Though they are not highly sought-after in today's = market, those amenities befit the architecture. However, sellers should evaluate their decor and consider clearing out = accessories purchased simply to fill space. In any property and in any = real estate market, clutter is a huge turnoff. "Before placing your home on the market, bring in a fresh eye to help = you clear stuff out," Wolter suggests. "What may not seem like clutter = to you may appear as such to someone who has never been in your home." Grand foyers that look as though their sole purpose is to impress rather = than welcome guests should be made to feel warm and inviting."This room = sets the tone for the rest of the house," Wolter says. Just say no to faux, Williamson urges. Faux finishes on the wall can = make a room look too showy, she says, and nowadays people want cleaner, = calmer palettes. Castle-like houses often become "theme-like," with Gothic elements like = dark, heavy furniture and textured draperies and upholstery, Williamson = says. This makes for a dark atmosphere. "Lighting in a home is extremely important," Wolter says. "If a home has = wonderful natural light, accentuate this feature. If the home is dark, = try to lighten it up with artificial lighting, lighter walls, or lighter = upholstery or slipcovers." ------=_NextPart_001_0199_01CBC7DD.235C6A30 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
http://www.philly.com/philly/home/CTW_home_20110203_Simplicity_= sells.html
3Dphilly.com=20
 
 
Posted on Thu, Feb. 3, 2011 =


Simplicity sells

Dawn Klingensmith

CTW Features

Architecture or interior design that calls to mind better economic = times=20 might actually be turnoffs to homebuyers. Opulence is out.

Just try selling a mini-castle in this market. Real estate broker = Marian=20 Anthony, of Anthony Realty Group in San Diego, Calif., listed such a = home,=20 knowing it would be a tough sell.

"In this market, people aren't looking at it," Anthony says. "It's = not seen=20 as practical. It seems extravagant. People don't like to display = evidence of=20 wealth in their houses anymore."

They say everything's bigger in Texas, but demand there is shrinking = for=20 opulent homes, too.

"There are a lot of castle-like homes = here, but=20 they don't seem impressive anymore. They seem gaudier," says = Dallas-based=20 interior designer Elaine=20 Williamson.

Soaring cathedral ceilings and = whirlpool tubs=20 that can accommodate Shamu aren't necessarily selling points. They are = "bells=20 and whistles," Williamson says, and while they used to be alluring, = today's=20 buyers find them unnecessary.

"There's no point in spending money on = things you=20 don't end up using," she says.

While whirlpool tubs aren't necessarily a liability, their popularity = is=20 waning, and they are no longer considered a must-have.

"Now, soaker or bubble tubs will do," says realtor Eileen Casey of = Prudential=20 Rubloff Properties in Chicago.

Luxury is out, eco-friendly is in

"Granite countertops and stainless steel appliances were very popular = in the=20 past," Casey adds, "But now more eco-friendly countertops and = energy-saving=20 appliances and fixtures are in, along with other eco-friendly = choices.

"Energy costs are rising," Casey continues. "People are more = interested in=20 options that can save them money while also being gentle on the=20 environment."

Homebuyers expect value, not rock-bottom pricing. They won't settle = for=20 shoddy construction or low-end materials. But "less is more" is the = prevailing=20 philosophy among buyers and owners alike.

"Most of my clients would rather have a smaller home with = better-quality=20 finishes than a large house with spec home amenities," says interior = decorator=20 Dana Wolter of Birmingham, Ala.

Sellers of large homes should try to create an atmosphere where = buyers can=20 envision themselves having casual, intimate gatherings, Wolter says. = Formal=20 rooms can be uninviting if not off-putting.

The backyard should tie in visually with the interior and look like = viable=20 and welcoming living space.

"Many people want to utilize every square inch of their home," Wolter = says.

Fussy or trendy design features should be switched out or played = down. Buyers=20 want classic features that will stand the test of time.

Declutter, but don't don't go overboard

Mini-castle owners should not go to the extreme of tearing out their = luxury=20 amenities. Though they are not highly sought-after in today's market, = those=20 amenities befit the architecture.

However, sellers should evaluate their decor and consider clearing = out=20 accessories purchased simply to fill space. In any property and in any = real=20 estate market, clutter is a huge turnoff.

"Before placing your home on the market, bring in a fresh eye to help = you=20 clear stuff out," Wolter suggests. "What may not seem like clutter to = you may=20 appear as such to someone who has never been in your home."

Grand foyers that look as though their sole purpose is to impress = rather than=20 welcome guests should be made to feel warm and inviting."This room sets = the tone=20 for the rest of the house," Wolter says.

Just say no to faux, Williamson urges. = Faux=20 finishes on the wall can make a room look too showy, she says, and = nowadays=20 people want cleaner, calmer palettes.

Castle-like houses often become "theme-like," with Gothic elements = like dark,=20 heavy furniture and textured draperies and upholstery, Williamson = says.

This makes for a dark atmosphere.

"Lighting in a home is extremely important," Wolter says. "If a home = has=20 wonderful natural light, accentuate this feature. If the home is dark, = try to=20 lighten it up with artificial lighting, lighter walls, or lighter = upholstery or=20 slipcovers."

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