“Know your audience”, it is a popular phrase that most people don’t really give any thought to. This is strange considering that it’s a universally applicable phrase, despite the fact that it is relegated to situations involving written or oral presentations; it should apply to all forms of presentation, including presenting your home for sale. Once upon a time, you needed to appeal to Baby Boomers or members of Generation X if you wanted to sell a home. As time goes on, as it always does, you have to modify your presentation in light of your audience. Currently, millennials are the group to cater to, as they represent 4 out of 10 new home loans. In plain English then, millennials are your audience. We have already discussed home improvements that millennials like, but we have not discussed things that really turn them away. We are aware that many homeowners don’t have thousands of dollars to throw around on repairs, so we are providing some simple solutions for those turn-offs.
Maybe you think those wood cabinets add character to your kitchens, maybe it does, but that’s a character from the 50s and millennials aren’t interested in that. The fact of the matter is that millennial-oriented designs implement “clean lines” and flat doors. If you want to bring your dated kitchen more up-to-date, consider sanding the cabinets smooth and painting over them – that should help a little.
For one reason or another, millennials are not fond of small closed spaces (maybe it reminds them of that studio that cost about as much as a mortgage or maybe it’s too similar to their prison-like dorm rooms in college). As such, older floor plans don’t really appeal to the generation who might be willing to buy what you’re selling. If at all possible, consider knocking down some walls (which coincidentally seems to be the solution in virtually every home improvement show). While knocking walls down looks like a lot of fun, it’s not particularly cheap to do it right (you really want to do this one right), so maybe consider emphasizing the openness of the area; remove some doors in favor of open archways (for the love of god, leave the doors on the bathroom though).
Avoid that stuffy Dinner for Schmucks vibe in your dining room, millennials don’t take too kindly to “formal” dining rooms; they just want a room they can eat in if the mood strikes them, but a room that could also double as a game a room when company is over as well. While it’s true that 50 years ago it would be heresy not to have an actual dining room for .. well dining... the times, they are a-changin’. Breakfast nooks and stools seem to be the latest craze, and you’d be wise to listen to what the people want. If you want to appeal to millennials, stage the “dining room” in a way that shows how versatile the space could be use. By way of example, this author’s childhood home had the “dining room” by the front door, with a window facing the entryway. I always thought it would be a cool place to have an office, despite the fact that there were no doors separating it from the living room and “hallway.” The point is a room can be whatever you want it to be, there’s no need to throw labels around.
At the Chernov Team we understand that knowledge is power, and knowledge of how to sell your home to the major market participants is powerful knowledge indeed. At the Chernov Team we know that whoever comes to the table most prepared leaves with the most, and the Chernov Team always leaves the table with the most.