You walk into your parents East Bay home and have decided with them that now is the time to sell. You may be thinking the parquet floors, oak bannister, olive colored bathroom fixtures and worn carpets won’t show well when it comes time to list. You may be thinking, ‘What should I do to renovate the rooms to get the most value when I list the home?’

Your Realtor (any Realtor) can be a resource.  They commonly know what resonates with buyers and they have access to a list of contractors who want to stay in their good graces.  In this way a Realtor is a good start, but not the complete package. To go beyond the mundane and achieve good design, you need someone with a track record of consistently providing exceptional design to their clients’ advantage.  Our team at Berkeley Hills Realty benefits from designers who are also experienced Realtors. They know the latest trends, and they know architecture and know how to make the existing assets in a home stand out. We have listed a multitude of older homes in the East Bay which needed renovation. Here is what we experienced, and how creative design choices impacted the listing price:

Capture A Buyers Interest 

Conventional wisdom is true; Kitchens and bathrooms are key rooms to capture the interest of the buyers. However, the finished product matters. Even in the hottest housing markets, springing for a kitchen or bath remodel is not a sure-fire investment. Bad design is an expensive mistake, whereas wise structural changes and prudent material choices can bring you twofold your investment. This is where our designers are worth their weight in gold.

Luxury finishes are a prime example. Too much of a good thing is just expensive. A designer can help you coordinate an overall design that elevates any material. An educated eye can find the best place for a dramatic focal point, showcasing a smaller amount of the luxury material in one memorable moment, which can then be enhanced by a supporting cast of coordinated, but less costly options.

Time Is Money

Our experience in project managing full renovations is also an asset. The adage is true: time is money. Especially in real estate where basic carrying costs can include mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance and HOA dues. “Having the right construction crew is important as timelines count. Having a group of construction professionals at the ready can move a project to completion in a month vs a year,“states Tracy Sichterman, owner/broker and design lead for Berkeley Hills Realty.

Create Multiple Offer Opportunities 

Market knowledge is also pivotal. Deferred maintenance weighs heavily on the minds of many would be sellers. They are thinking, “I will probably have to replace the old roof and repair the deck before I can even begin to spend resources on a new kitchen.” Au contraire, mon frere.  In the fast paced East Bay market, where homes sell routinely, “as is”, the roof that may be of primary concern for you, may not be a deciding factor for the buyer. In our market, it is the emotional triggers when buyer’s say, “I love that master bath”, or “I gotta have that kitchen,” that create the multiple offer opportunities.  Your roof may be at the end of its lifespan, but if it doesn’t leak, it won’t negate the emotional trigger of a beautiful new kitchen.

Create Emotional Triggers 

Emotion worthy design is what sets our firm apart, and it isn’t easy.  The East Bay market is full of homes with rather pedestrian versions of market prep.  We recently saw a nearly new kitchen in a home where the renovations were orchestrated by a well-intentioned listing agent.  With new counters, all new appliances, new lighting and newly tiled floors, the sellers likely spent upwards of $20,000. The final look was a drab ode to greige (a new trend in real estate on turning everything a color that is somewhere between grey and beige).  In fact, the resulting full-color listing photos looked like they were shot in black-and-white. This isn’t to say the entire budget was spent in vain, and the look may have been better than the dated surfaces that were there previously. It just wasn’t beautiful. The house was still a logical purchase and it did sell.

However, the seller missed a design opportunity, losing out on the chance to create an emotional trigger.  That same kitchen budget could have played matchmaker between house and buyer: Good design helps buyers fall in love.  When buyers fall in love, they are willing to pay more than even the neighborhood sales history and the online valuations can justify. We specialize in swoon worthy designs.  See our own ode to greige, done with a bit of flair and a beach inspired vibe at www.1949otis.com.

Contact us today for a complimentary design consultation at Tracy@BerkeleyHillsRealty.com or (510) 524-9888