Today I had the pleasure of talking with Eric Gilmore of Gilmore Building Co, who shared his advice for attractive updates that have the greatest impact when you sell your home.
Find a way to differentiate your home. “Many homes built over the past 10-15 years do not have the details you’d find in classic old New England homes,” said Gilmore. “Developers stripped out fine trim decorative details and focused more on maximizing square footage. Homes with “good bones” can have their appearance enhanced by adding many distinctive features at a reasonable cost. For example, the exterior can be decorated by adding window shutters and classic shutter hardware and all of a sudden your house looks finished with enhanced curb appeal. These simple changes help sell your home faster for your asking price, making it easier on the family.”
Blend the interior and exterior of the home. “To synchronize the inside and outside of a home in the classic New England styles, bring together an architect trained in classical architecture, a builder with an appreciation for the classic details, a landscape designer, and an interior designer and have the Builder cause them all to work together with one another,” said Gilmore. “Blending all of these disciplines together creates warmth and appeal – a more harmonious home.”
Accentuate windows. Many homes have drab snap-in window grills that are missing shadow lines of traditional window grills. “Replacing them with energy efficient real divided window adds depth and warmth,” said Gilmore.
Choose period-appropriate finishes. Your remodeling team, under the direction of the builder, can help you find the most appropriate moldings or trim that will synchronize correctly with the style and scale of your home. “A good focal point is the front door. It can become a grand inviting entrance. Introduce people to your home with attractive trim and door distinguished surround,” Gilmore said. “In addition, installing interior trim, wide corner boards, or custom cabinetry adds character to large-volume spaces that otherwise would feel cold.”
Be careful about reconfiguring spaces. Gilmore Building Co specializes in combining traditional New England architectural styling with home layouts and features that work for today’s families. “We work with homeowners to determine what layout will work for their needs and then define spaces accordingly,” said Gilmore. “However, a few words of caution. If you’re remodeling your home before selling, it can be cost-prohibitive to reconfigure its spaces. Opening up walls and ceilings can be costly. Alternatively, updating flooring or adding new lighting can bring added sparkle in a more economical way.”
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