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It seems now that the trend in real estate is to rip everything out after twenty years or so...Kitchens, bathrooms, even the color of hardwood is accused of looking out of style.
When we were househunting a few years back, we saw a few houses where the owners had been there for 40+ years and still had original features to the house. Things like original tile work and kitchen cabinets, that kind of thing. And why not? The houses themselves were very well-maintained, but I admired the owners in a way for not getting swept up in trends.
I feel like people have gotten a bit too nuts, ripping out things that still have life left in them.
In my area, it seems like after 20 years MAX, you're expected to practically gut a house. Even after ten years or so, finishes and components are "accused" of looking dated
I guess it all depends on the quality and finishes of the original build. My house was built quickly and with the lowest end stuff so after 14 years it looks very dated already.
I think renovation should depend on what makes you happy while living in the house. It's often cheaper to upgrade your present residence than to sell and move up.
If you are renovating immediately before selling then I strongly suggest you consider cost:benefit ratio. Also don't forget to analyze your capital gains position, IIRC it's $250K single $500K joint CG exclusion.
My last sale I painted (DIY), installed inexpensive carpet because the existing carpet was totally ruined. The stove was faulty and the vinyl flooring under it showed many years of scratches, so I bought a cheapo new stove (only 3 burners LOL) to cover the bad vinyl flooring.
Our house has the original kitchen and bathrooms (1949). Kitchen is in fairly good shape but a door fell off and it needs some additional cabinetry and electrical work so it will be gutted. Bathrooms need to be redone. However, we are trying to keep some original elements in those rooms. Tile floor will be kept in one if we can and the bathtub in the other. The rest of the house will stay its beautiful 1949 self. The plan is to stay in this house forever and never renovate again (we are in our 30's). We are renovating in a style we love and that is true to the house (hence why we bought it). Maintaining will be expensive enough.
I think all of this stems from people not staying in their houses. They upgrade or move. In order to get that "top dollar" so you can buy the next one the current house needs to be in style. Also, as the previous poster commented, if cheap materials were used they are not going to last 40 years.
I think the OP is right.... and I blame HGTV for people wanting to rip out perfectly good cabinets for being honey oak instead of dark coffee. I just nod and smile... it's their house!
I think so many people worry about what is dated or not dated. Seriously, why is that important? Do you have a fridge? Does it work? Okay then. Same with cabinets or baths or kitchens. We are such a disposable, wasteful society anymore. I see the HGTV shows with perfectly usable, attractive rooms, appliances, countertops, etc., and people want to rip them out! We are so spoiled. I get wanting things to look nice and clean, but all this renovating because a countertop is not granite, or the appliances aren't stainless steel is just too much, IMO.
It's ridiculous. I also venture to say that the materials that are installed today aren't near the same quality as yesteryear. Appliances need to be replaced in 5-10 years. They used to last 30. Cabinets aren't real wood anymore. They're either a mixture of real wood and synthetics. Good luck with hardwoods lasting 50 years like they used to.
Plumbing fixtures, such as toilets and faucets? Yeah, maybe Kohler or American Standard, but the cheap **** I see today that supposedly looks stylish and expensive? Garbage.....
Kids these days don't know any better. They see shiny and new, but along with everything else, planned obsolescence has taken over consumerism. You can barely get screws and nails that aren't made in China these days.
Sometimes you can find a house that hasn't had many updates, for a bargain. I did, and what a deal! I really like it just as it is. HGTV would hate my house, but they're not living here, I am. And I love it.
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