It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of looking at photos of Woody Creek real estate or Basalt luxury homes for sale. We can imagine ourselves living in beautiful spaces and dreaming about all the amazing things we would do there.
However, sometimes what we see in the pictures is not what we get when we visit the home in person. Pictures of even the most lovely home taken in poor lighting can lead to an unsatisfactory online viewing. Even if the home simply doesn't show well due to issues like poor staging or an excessive amount of clutter from the current owner, there are ways to see the potential in any home.
If you're looking at a home with unimpressive pictures, here are a few tips to help you see past what you see on paper or online to the true potential of Woody Creek real estate or Basalt luxury homes.
Don't let paint colors or wallpaper dissuade you
Wall coverings and color are not difficult to change, so don't let paint colors or wallpaper dissuade you from considering a home listed among Woody Creek real estate or Basalt luxury homes. In fact, a single room can be repainted or have new wallpaper hung on a single weekend, so don't the wall color or coverings in Woody Creek real estate or Basalt luxury homes hold too much weight in your decision-making process. While it is certainly easier to picture yourself living in a home with more neutral colors, paint or wallpaper is not worth passing up a home you love when you can switch a room's color with a little elbow grease or the help of a hired painter.
Use the pictured furniture to estimate room size
For Woody Creek real estate or Basalt luxury homes where the room seems small in photos due to overcrowded furniture, use the pictured furniture to estimate the room size. You can compare the pictured furniture to the furniture you plan to place in the room. If you see couches and chairs that look large and oversized in the room, it's likely because they are. This means that the room is probably able to fit more standard-sized furniture than it looks in pictures, which is always good! For example, if the living room has a massive sectional, rocking chair, and several armchairs with side tables, the room may feel cramped, but if you plan to only have a couch, love seat, and coffee table in the space when you move in, the room will feel larger than it looks online.
Take note of any windows or natural light
When looking at pictures of Woody Creek real estate or Basalt luxury homes, take note of any windows or natural light. If there are heavy curtains or flimsy blinds obscuring the light, don't let that discourage you! Instead, focus on the number of windows per room to get an idea of how much light the room gets. If there are few windows or they are small, the home may not get as much natural light as you would like, but that can be remedied with lamps and overhead lighting. However, if there are several large windows in a room, you can bet that the space is filled with beautiful natural light, even if the pictures don't show it.
Familiarize yourself with easy fixes and upgrades
If you're looking at Woody Creek real estate or Basalt luxury homes that need some work, familiarize yourself with easy fixes and upgrades that will improve the home without wasting excess time or money. For example, new hardware and appliances can make a big difference if the kitchen needs updating. Replacing cabinet pulls, doorknobs, and light switch faceplates can all be done in a single day, so these cosmetic fixes are easy and inexpensive ways to make a big impact.
If the home needs larger upgrades, like a new roof or windows, you may want to consider whether those are projects you're willing to take on before making an offer. You could choose to negotiate with the buyer of your current property to rent back a few months while you complete renovations on your new property among Woody Creek real estate or Basalt luxury homes, or you can ask the seller to make the repairs before closing.
Look for telltale signs of a good foundation
When looking at a home among Woody Creek real estate or Basalt luxury homes, look for telltale signs of a good foundation. These include things like level floors, solid doors and windows, and no hairline cracks in the walls at the corners or near the baseboards. These are all signs that the home is built on a solid foundation and is likely structurally sound.
You are looking for a home with “good bones” so you can put your own personal touches on it to make it yours. Cosmetic details, including larger fixes like new flooring, can be changed with the help of a contractor in the first quarter of a year or so of living in the new property, depending on how insistent you are on making changes as quickly as possible.
Don't forget about the yard and outdoor spaces
Don't forget about the yard and outdoor spaces when looking at a property among Woody Creek real estate or Basalt luxury homes. Pictures often overlook these, but they can be just as important as indoor spaces. If the home has a large lot, it means you have more space to work with when it comes to landscaping, gardening, or even adding an outdoor kitchen or pool. If the yard is small or non-existent, it may not be a big deal to you. However, a small yard may not be ideal if you have young children or pets.
Before making a snap judgment on an overgrown yard or one with patchy or missing landscaping, consider the following: How much space do you need outside? Does the space meet your needs as is? What about removing some of the current landscaping — would that free up the amount of space you desire? Don't be discouraged by poor curb appeal. With the help of a professional landscape artist, you can turn an unappealing outdoor space into a beautiful place to relax and entertain family and friends.
Check out the neighborhood
It's always important to research the neighborhood before buying a home. This is especially true if you're looking at a home that doesn't have great curb appeal. By checking out the neighborhood, you can get a better sense of what the area is like and whether or not it's the right fit for you.
There are a lot of factors to consider when buying a home, but don't let the pictures fool you. With a little imagination, you can see past the photos and envision the potential of any home. Woody Creek real estate and Basalt luxury homes have some hidden gems, so don't discount a home just because the pictures aren't great.
These are just a few tips to help you see past any less-than-stellar photos of homes that you might be considering. If you are ready to start looking for your perfect home among Woody Creek real estate or Basalt luxury homes, contact Jill Shore today.
