The one's who want "move-in ready"
and the one's looking for a "fixer upper."
And then of course you have all the buyers in between, which would be the one's that don't mind if a home needs minimal updating.
I totally understand why move-in ready homes seem like the more attractive option. To have ease of mind knowing you don't have to worry about anything except for literally moving in, that's a great feeling, especially after surviving the ups and downs of the actual buying process. And if you're prepared to pay top dollar for these types of homes, especially in this market, then why not.
Now if you're a bit more daring, looking for a deal, and have patience for the headaches that can be attached to renovations, then maybe a fixer upper may be the right choice for you.
If you ask me, I'm a fan of both. But being that I'm obsessed and genuinely enjoy D.I.Y. projects, I tend to lean toward fixers.
Well one thing that separates me from other realtors is my background in Interior Design. And there's a big difference between having a love for design, and actually understanding it. As you can see real estate, architecture, and design all intertwine together. And there's a good majority of agents that appreciate architecture, which is why I love this industry even more, because I share a lot of the same passions as my fellow colleagues. But again, big difference between appreciating and having knowledge.
Now when I'm not selling homes or finding property for my clients, my escape and hobby is to revamp old beat up furniture and transform them into beautiful pieces. I guess I consider these pieces my little "fixer uppers." It's a very similar process to flipping. I buy it for cheap, I put a lot of work into them, and the end result is I end up profiting a whole lot and the customer is super happy because they walk away with a one-of-a-kind piece that no one will have. It's a great feeling to know that the pieces I put so much love into become a part of what makes their house feel more like a home. Just like people get emotionally attached to their homes, I get attached to my pieces.
About a year ago, this lovely lady by the name of Heather contacted me. She found my furniture shop online and fell in love with this particular headboard I revamped and had for sale.
I wish I had a "before" picture of what this headboard looked like before I transformed it. I don't. But try to imagine. It was an ugly mustard yellowish brown but I saw that it had great bones and amazing curvature. I purchased it immediately and knew this was going to be one of my masterpieces. Again, very similar experience when searching for a fixer upper. You look for a home with good bones, and of course that its in a good area, you have a vision, and you start working on it.
I started out by hand sanding the headboard then painting it white. This took forever because of all the curves and crevices. And I had to give it coat after coat after coat because I was painting a light color over a dark one. I screwed a lion's head into the middle flat part of the headboard which I then had my upholsterer tuft white leather fabric all around the lion's head. It turned out just how I imagined it would. Just beautiful.
I name all my pieces and this one was called "King Leo III." Why? Because I'm a Leo, I was born on the 3rd, and that's why you'll often see lions throughout my design work.
King Leo III Headboard
When Heather saw the headboard she asked me "Where did you get this??? I have to HAVE this." I explained to her it didn't always look like this. I told her all about the labor of love I poured into it and the whole process of how it came to be. After telling her this, she wanted it even more knowing that no one would have the same bed as her.
Heather is a homeowner of a fixer upper herself and is definitely the type of person that wants what nobody else has. Something I too can relate to! One of the main reasons why she was looking to purchase a fixer was because she knew she'd be able to custom make it all her own. That is why her and I instantly connected because of our love of transforming the old into something special. She ended up buying a ton more furniture and accessory pieces from me as well as hiring me to design the remaining rooms that needed remodeling in her home. And it's crazy to think the entire design plan was inspired all around this headboard she was mad about. It excites me when people are just as crazy about my work as I am.
Because of the distance of where she lives in proximity to me, the journey to finish the project was a long one. But it was well worth it. She was a client who became a great friend and always tells me she's thinking of me because all my beautiful pieces and design surround her. The greatest compliment is knowing how happy she is because my creations and designs have made her fixer finally a home.
Downstairs Guest Bedroom
I made Heather this bed skirt to give the guest bed a custom tailored look that's cohesive to all that beautiful black molding. The bed skirt completely unifies the entire room together.
The Master Bedroom
The Master Bathroom
The paintable wallpaper on the bathroom's back splash that lead to the "his and her's" closets match the wallpaper behind her bed. Ties it all together.
Heather already has a great eye for design. These are designs she did herself.
The Living Room
The Family Room
The Kitchen
