"outdated" AKA kiss of death in Real Estate

If you are trying to sell a house or ever plan to, "outdated" is NOT a word you want to hear. Parachute pants and checkered "Vans" were the things to wear in the 80's. But when was the last time you saw someone wearing parachute pants? Well, just like fashion trends come and go, so do construction materials. Homes built in the 70's and into the 80's tend to have brown doors and trim and baseboards. During the 90's, we started to see white doors and trim. Nowadays, an off white or antique white seems to be gaining popularity and it's even become more common, espicially in basements, to see black or chocolate brown trim and doors. Brass fixtures, such as doorknobs, faucets, and lighting were popular in the 90's. In the early 2000's the trend went towards the silver & brushed nickel and in recent years oil rubbed bronze have been in high demand with buyers.
So if your house is outdated, does that mean you have to spend a fortune to update it? Not necessarily. However, depending on the extend of your outdatedness (is that a word?) investing a modest amount and making some changes will most likely be necessary to successfully sell a house. Knowing what changes to make is the hard part for most people. Cable channels such as HGTV and TLC have plenty of decorating shows that demonstrate how to get the most pang for your buck. There are also plenty of magazines and information on the website. However, these options are not really an option for a lot of people (my husband would rather do just about anything than watch one of these shows). So another great resource is a local real estate agent. Not just any agent will do though. You want an agent that works with buyers and knows their likes and dislikes. You want an agent that, regardless of their personal tastes, can assess your home and make recommendations that are realistic, being sensitive to what you can afford both in time and money.
A lot of people wait until they are ready to put their house on the market before asking a real estate professional for help in this area. I have seen people spend a lot of time and money on updates or renovations and then say, "okay, we are ready to put our house on the market." Some learn an expensive lesson when their choices are not well received by buyers.
So, if you are concerned your home might be outdated, call a real estate agent - EARLY! The good ones will be glad to make recommends now that will make their job of selling your home easier when the time comes.

My first blog post!

Okay- I am joining the group. I've heard about and watched blogging from a distance for quite a while now. I have finally created my very own blog. My goal is to use this format to educate people about matters related to real estate. Since all real estate is local, my point of reference will be Cherokee and Cobb County, just north of Atlanta Georgia. Thanks for reading.