Want to feel better about your house?
Stop watching home improvement shows
Hate your house?
It’s understandable. After spending two years in lockdown watching nothing but home improvement shows, I too feel like I’m living in a dated “Fixer Upper.”
All this talk of open concept and modern farmhouse, of shiplap and builtins, of waterfall islands and louvered pergolas, has left us hating the very homes that kept us safe and warm during COVID.
Still, truth is, these days we can’t always get what we want.
But sometimes we can get what we need.
We wanted new flooring. Fail. We wanted a new bed. Fail. We wanted a pergola. Fail.
But we needed a new washing machine. Success. Doesn’t do much for our home’s aesthetic but it smells better.
It’s not just me trying to get help for “This Old House.” Friends tell me they can’t get plumbers, remodelers or landscapers to even call them back.
What can you be guaranteed to get? The follow up survey that automatically generates the nanosecond you reach out to a company. Confounding.
Availability. COVID. Supply and demand. Container ships trapped sideways in the Suez Canal. There are a million reasons why you can’t go from “Fixer to Fabulous” these days. Here are some more: Connections. Got a guy? Most of us don’t know “The Property Brothers” or Norm Abram or “Christina on the Coast.” I’m starting
to wonder if all of the nation’s home remodelers are now working in TVland.
Money. There’s not enough cash in the world. Oh, maybe there is, but it’s not in my bank account. Besides, how can you be sure you’re getting your money’s worth when costs for home improvement projects seem to double from “add to cart” to “place order”?
Dominoes. You know how they fall: If you get that free-standing tub, you’re gonna need new tile. And if you get that new tile, you better look for a new vanity. And if you’re springing for a new vanity, you might as well just tear down and rebuild.
Style. Sure, install open shelving and then wait five minutes for old-fashioned cabinets to be all the rage again.
Ageism. You do know you’re only getting older, right? By the time you
install that game room or home theater, your kids will be off to college. And by the time you get that built-in outdoor fire pit, you’ll be set on a 9 p.m. bedtime.
No shows. There are home improvement folks who will promise you the moon and then, apparently, move there.
Dodgers: We attended our town’s Home Improvement Show and talked with no less than 25 local business reps, describing our availability and the kind of work we wanted done. They smiled, took notes, even made appointments to visit. No one showed and we have yet to get a call back. It’s been months. Months.
Truthtellers. By now you’ve heard all about supply chain issues and shortages. By now, you know lots of industries are struggling to get enough employees to keep them afloat. By now, you’ve
probably heard, “You’re looking at anywhere from 12 to 585 months.” Sigh.
I know, TV makes it seem like everyone else is getting what they want, that everyone else is living in a sleek, modern, absolutely perfect, Scandinavian-style utopia.
They’re not. But don’t take my word for it. Take Aki Kladis’s.
A suburban Chicago realtor with Century 21 Affiliated for more than 25 years, Kladis has seen some houses.
“Most people do NOT live in TV real estate land and should never use these shows to gauge their home and its value,” Kladis said.
Don’t be fooled into thinking you’re the only one staring daggers into orangey oak cabinets or that jet-powered soaker tub that only gets used once a year — by your kid.
And don’t make the mistake of thinking if you invest $30 grand into your kitchen, your home
is immediately worth $30 grand more than your neighbor’s. That’s not how real estate assessment works, he said. Sure, having a newer kitchen might help it sell faster but you can’t simply demand that buyers repay your renovation costs.
The pandemic was toughest on people with smaller homes who suddenly had to find space for an office, Kladis said. Many people were working from their kitchens or dining rooms.
As a result, he said, “Many first-time buyers are now looking for a home that has an extra bedroom or office space.”
Kladis said while you wait for the home improvement industry to return to normal timelines, there are some relatively cheap and easy things you can do to rekindle your love for your home.
Change the countertops to quartz, paint the cabinets, change lighting, apply fresh paint, install new doors and complete small bathroom projects like adding a new toilet, a vanity with cultured marble top or a framed mirror.
And remember, your home is not just a showcase. It’s where your life is happening. It’s where your children are growing up, where pets snuggle up to humans, where laughter occurs, plans are made and mistakes happen, all while flooring, railings, countertops and bathroom sinks get a beating.
You might say a wellworn home is a loved home.
So, learn to “Love It or …” maybe give Kladis a call.