Holtz Realty

In my limited free time, I have been helping a client get a home that he inherited ready for the the market. His family has been clients of mine for a very long time so I consider it a bit of a payback for all they have done for me. What I find interesting about this home versus homes of like vintage is that there have been very few updates as far as painted woodwork and modernization that took place in the 1950’s and forward. It will indeed sell at a discount because of wallpaper that will have to be stripped as well as plumbing and heating updates. The real beauty of this home is all the gorgeous oak woodwork and floors that have not been butchered by some do-it-yourselfer. On the flip side of this proverbial coin, are the numerous older grand homes that I have been in over the years that have had woodwork painted, door knobs and hinges painted with numerous coats of paint, floors sanded excessively when likely not necessary and key components of the beauty of the home removed such as pillars in the foyers and capitals on the interior door and window trimming. I bristle often when I look at homes that are missing these capitals simply because when people years ago believed that all the “old fashioned” woodwork was too much out of style for those times, they removed it to make the home look more modern. Now people try to re-create in a half-baked way the “look” of something original. I showed a home yesterday that I had been in about 10 years ago and was mortified to see how the current owners have nearly ruined the oak floors in the home. I was nearly speechless. With that said, I stand by my standard rule. If you don’t do it right, then don’t do it at all.