Life Inside A Plain White Box
Would you want to live in a white box? Apparently lots of people don’t mind, according to New York Times. A Times article discussed brokers counseling renovation-happy sellers to steer away from “specific renovations” — for example, building a tiki bar in a bathroom or painting ceilings black like a nightclub. I’ve seen both…
Generally, brokers consider these renovations overly personal. They usually advise clients to pick hardwood over stone, choose wood or white cabinets, and stick with shades of white for the bathrooms. According to The Times:
Brokers say unfortunate resale consequences can also stem from closing up windows, removing a bathtub, dropping ceilings (especially below nine and a half feet) in order to install lighting or ductwork, rounding off square or rectangular rooms — and putting in the wrong floors.
On the other hand, they recommend loading up on fashionable appliances: Bosch, Miele and Subzero.
All this makes me sad. Isn’t one of the joys of ownership the ability to customize? What if I want a red-tile back splash or terra cotta in the entry? And who says the owner shouldn’t remove an unused bathtub? I have a friend who replaced her tub with a bidet. Those who prevent themselves from personalizing their space because of resale value eliminate the best reason to own.
I suppose agents will hate this advice, but I say, go ahead, customize your home the way you want to, and if that means black ceilings and a tiki bar, so be it.
Your First Child and Brookline Housing
