A Study in How to Renovate

Over the last couple years I’ve seen a thousand renovations; aka “reno”, aka “fix n’ flip”.

99% of them are homes that somebody got at a foreclosure auction or directly from the bank. They throw mocha colored paint on the walls, white trim on the doors and baseboards, granite on the counters and some appliances in the kitchen.

These certainly have their purpose, for sure. But I am most inspired by renovations that either “green it up” through efficiency improvements or just have a great sense of style.

Check out this new listing. I’m very excited about it because the owners really took the time to get it right.

Imagine that you are given one mid-century home, a team of architects, designers and contractors. Your job is to modernize the home. Make a statement. Go.

My clients Robin and Russell did just that. They are leading the way in this established neighborhood in Central Phoenix by creating something truly special.

Follow this link to look at the listing. Click here for an extensive list of  renovation details, including architects and designers.

But I want to point out some things to think about if you are thinking of renovating, or if you are in the market and look at renovated homes. This home is a great example because they did such a good job with it.

1) Take your time. The owners got architects and designers out of L.A. to really think through how to turn this traditional red brick home in to something that stands out.

Lesson: Don’t just run in with a can of paint and some cheap marble counter tops. Real estate agents, in particular, notice (and they assume you are hiding something).

2) Add features that add to the home’s presence. The custom designed modern exterior foyer and rear covered patio wall are finished in Brazilian Ipe, a design nod to Ralph Haver and Al Beadle. They found a way to make the home stand out, but that was respectful of the architectural period of the home and the neighborhood.

Lesson: You may not be able to go to such great lengths. But if you are going to renovate, think “how can I complement this home’s history, but add something new.”

3) Think about Space. The architects and designers opened up the flow of the home with a great room and created a nice flow between the kitchen and the living room. This is not easy to do, but it is worth it.

Lesson: With too many older homes, the small rooms make you feel cut off from the rest of the home.

4) Detail, Detail, Detail. People notice when you cut corners. Robin and Russell did customized cabinetry, 24” designer Italian tile and Silestone Quartz Countertops.

Lesson: People are looking to see that you replaced old hardware, fixtures and really thought through what you wanted to do before you started.

5) Don’t forget to Permit. Robin and Russell got every permit needed, from electrical to structural, which means the buyer of this home can feel safe in the work that was done right.

Lesson: So many people do extensive work without getting the city permits required. That can be dangerous and could cause problems for the buyer later on when it is their turn to sell. It can also slow down the purchase.

If you’d like to see this house or talk about your home purchase, call me at 602-456-9388. I’m happy to share.