A Home Decorating Poll...

[Mr Majik]

So we're renovating my Dad's house to put on the market (He passed away in July).
We're having a little spat regarding 1 thing: Some want to change the bathtub, others think we should leave it.

The existing tub is a really nice Jacuzzi whirlpool tub. Everyone agrees it is nice to bathe in. The problem is the colour; Grey.

Those in favour of changing it are looking to replace it with a plain, white tub, without Jacuzzi function. Their argument is that grey is undesirable in today's market. They believe that regardless of the function the colour would turn away prospective buyers.

The other side argues that the Jacuzzi whirlpool function is highly desirable, and that people would gladly give up their preferred colour for the better bath experience. They also say that some people would actually like a grey tub.

We are not prepared to spend the kind of money involved to change the tub to another colour with Jacuzzi whirlpool functions. Any replacement would have to be a plain tub to keep expenses down.

What say you?Please take the poll.

Also, please tell us what is that one thing that would stop you from buying a house, if everything else meets your requirements. For instance; evidence of smokers, too busy a street, too far from public transport, etc...

[Sly1]

The existing tub should be kept and decorate the room so the tub does not stand out. In this busy work world that kind of tub would be a selling point. A well lit room might minimize the grey tub.
If the house is retaining a stale scent from a smoker that is definitely a big NO NO.
A quiet neighbourhood.
A yard with minimal maintenance requirements.
.

[snowbird]

O.K. my man.... here is my take on ...Home Resale 101

First off.... two things sell homes.... Kitchens and Bathrooms.

What you should be looking at is .... what colour fixtures are being put into bathrooms these days (and are all your fixtures matching)

Even if it was a high end jacuzzi...if the colour 'dates' it..... the person making the offer.... will want to 'take a credit' (deduct the cost of having the bathroom upgraded)...that my man will be big bucks off the offer....better to list a home with a new standard bathroom....than an 'old' high end one.

...but I'm sure your Real Estate Agent told you that.... if not .....fire him/her ....today's buyer is very saavy...they know exactly what to look for, and what each room would be worth.... if they had to upgrade it

If the the buyer decides the bathroom needs an upgrade....the credit they take.... will be based on having a .... professional company come in and do it....You may know a local handyman who can do it for less....and you will then avoid that loss in the price offered.

Why I wouldn't buy a house (if it passed the home inspection)

... evidence of smoker would be because of the cost to properly sanitized (has to be washed from top to bottom...every square inch...then....repainted....any broadloom would have to be replaced.

...what the neighbors homes looked like (but yes, you have no control over that)

Boy, buyers today coming with their 'wish list'.... be prepared.

[Mr Majik]

The bathroom is not old. It was done professionally about 3 or 4 years ago. All the fixtures are up-to-date.
Those who want to change it are only concerned about the colour. They have no issue with the style at all.

I am on the fence. I can understand each argument but neither is a knockout punch to me...hence the poll, which, btw...neither you nor Sly have taken as yet

[Mr Majik]

In answer to my own topic...

I am very particular about my home being on a quiet street but very near to major highways.
I am also somewhat paranoid, in that I need to live near a Fire Station and hospital. I need to know that emergency services are close at hand.

My current home satisfies these needs

[snowbird]

Majik.... as long as all of the fixtures match.... and like you say.... they are relatively new (3 or 4 years is relatively new)....then it should not be too much of an issue.... it is when there is an appearence that the bathroom has not been upgraded at all....that you have a problem
....One suggestion would be to repaint the the walls say a ....winter white colour 'spar look' ( I redid one of our bathrooms to spar some years ago...it lookd completely different to the original version).

...then just 'stage' the bathroom....say with a basket of nicely rolled 'thick white towels'....if there are window curtains.... or tub curtains....then make sure these look 'spar like' too..... remove all the cultter from the bath.... go for the 'sleek minimalist' look....the buyer won't even notice that the fixtures are grey then...if they blend with the room.

As to the other stuff.... you can only control what is in your property.....generally people check out the location of a property to see if their other needs are met.... before they even consider looking at your house.

.... me? I onced lived close to a major highway.... it suited me...because I was a communter and needed that highway.....about 75% of my neighbours....were also commuters. (worked out of my city)...ours was a 'bedroom community'.

.... wouldn't want to be living close to a fire station.... not with all the comings and goings of those fire trucks...day and night.
...In urban areas, close proximity to a fire station is not a huge priority anymore (you may have noticed that question was dropped of the 'home insurance application'.... now they only ask how close your home is to a fire hydrant)... with the advent of the 911 network and 'Regional Fire Departments' (calls no longer go into specific stations...they go to general dispatch) response time is not an issue in urban areas.

...... we purchased our second home close to two schools...because at the time our children were school age, gym rats, and none of them drove.... now that I am an empty nester.... I find hearing the school buzzer and having the constant traffic of parents ...dropping off and picking up....entertaining...but busy.

Bottom line in realestate is

..... with regard to your 'dream home'..... the buyers taste or need may not be the sellers taste or need.... and this is where a skilled Agent comes in ....they ...depending on the client....should be able to pitch to whatever the client is looking for....play up whatever feature they think is important to the client.... and find a way to 'distract' the client from anything they know may not appealing to them.

Majik.... there is a TV channel.....HGTV.... if you have time these days....tune in.... they run Real Estate advice shows constantly.
I have been watching them for years ...ever since I retired....one of my TV's.... is permanently on that channel
When I look at some of those real estate shows... all I say is ....."if I knew then, what I know now"....

Oh, and I didn't vote because none of those would be a consideration when viewing a bathroom in a home that is not new.... as I said...the one thing I would consider is....."Was this bathroom ...upgraded"....knowing that this is a big bucks project....if it were not.

[oecarb]

Majik, it would be much easier if you could post pics. Are there other fixings (wc, washbasins, bidet, bathroom cabinet, towel rails, curtains, bath mats etc)? Do they match? What colour are the walls, ceiling and floor finish?

At the end of the day, spending a bit of money could mean the difference between selling and not selling.

[snowbird]

Majik, it would be much easier if you could post pics. Are there other fixings (wc, washbasins, bidet, bathroom cabinet, towel rails, curtains, bath mats etc)? Do they match? What colour are the walls, ceiling and floor finish?

At the end of the day, spending a bit of money could mean the difference between selling and not selling.

..... Or in the amount that is offered for the property....like I said..... Kitchens and Bathrooms....sell homes.

[trini123]

I would say leave it. Try to make it less obvious e.g. bright lights?

[vaio]

yea, pics might help.

[shaddeck]

mr.majik,

save yourself ah lot ah trouble an expense by jess refinishing- check permaglaze or miracle method.......

[Mr Majik]

Thanks for your input all...

The decision has been made. The tub goes and a plain white tub is going in. That means there will be a renovation of the whole bathroom, as it is presently designed around the colour grey. Countertop and cabinets will now have to be changed. Painting is irrelevant as the room was going to be painted one way or the other.

I'm just glad this mini-war is over. Although it is the house I grew up in and had many of my happiest moments, these last few months have seen me wish the house razed to the ground.

Originally, I was of the "do some minor repairs, slap a coat of paint and put it on the market" mindset.
Then I got sold on the whole renovation thing.
But now, I'd be glad to sell it "as is" and just get rid of it.

Sometimes the money you put into a project is not realized in the sale price. Sometimes it is better to sell "as is" because the loss you take is less than the cost of bringing the house up to par.

Or sometimes, you can be like me, and get so fed up with the bickering that you'd just as soon give the damn thing away!

[snowbird]

Just ask the Real Estate Agent to see the 'comps' (comparable homes in the area that were recently sold)...because if your current listing price is at the top of those comps.....then yes, you are right, you may not recover your investment

....that generally happens if you put more money into the house..... than the neighborhood (and your size and age house ) is worth.
But like I said.... bathrooms and kitchens sell homes.... let's hope you end up with multiple offers.....so that you can end up getting back you investment.... if it goes into a 'bidding war'

....that is happening alot in my neck of the woods.... maybe it is the same down you way.

[Mr Majik]

There have been a few of the same model house selling in the general area, over the last few months, in the range my brother expects to get for this house. Some of them have been well decorated and a little more updated than ours. However, there is one thing our house has that those houses lack.

This model house had a small kitchen and the dining room was a small 'L' off the living room. In 1987 my Dad had an extension built to the back of the house. This extension became home to a new, spacious kitchen with room for a 6 seat table and much more cupboard and counter space. The old kitchen became the new, spacier dining room and the living room now has much more space in it's L shape.

One good thing about the location is that it is in a more traditional (read:non-Indo) area of Brampton. Brampton is well-known as an Indian-Sikh city, which can be tricky when selling a house if you're not part of their community.
However, there is a little bit of demand for houses where "they" don't live. As racist as that may sound, that is our reality. There are many people who do not want to live amongst Indians and, unfortunately, that is who we have to market to. That fact actually enhances the value of a house in our situation.

[snowbird]

Sounds like your property has a ..... one up and hey....sorry for the neighbors.... but if you have a target market.... go for it ...the Sikhs are going to end up owning all of the property in Peel some day .....anyway.

Majik....with regard to the (non Indo) remark..... people have to have an appreciation for what is going on over here....especially in places like Peel Region to know where you are coming from.....

Right now the high school my son in law teaches at .... a north west end Toronto inner city school (yeh, those schools that are the last pick of teachers).... is seeing an influx of teachers transferring in....they would rather teach at an inner city school in Toronto...than continuing to teach in .... Peel

.... the problem.... they are unable to function effectively within that community anymore.

This change of demographic and change of culture has made that region a 'predominantly Sikh' community.... as a result, the school board (who now have Sikh members).... the police, and other community services.... have to tailor their programs ..... to suit them. The teachers are saying.... it is not enough to have the ...cultural sensitivity ...... you now have to do things .....exactly they way they want.... or else.

Actually the same thing happened in BC years ago....only it was with the East Asians.... they moved into communities..... became the majority....then just restructured the way services were rendered to suit themselves.... I remember at one time....one parent who had lived in the original family home she grew up in.....said she finally had to remove her daughter from the neighborhood school....as English became 'the second language' at the 'public school'....all of a sudden, this child had nothing in common with most of her class mates.... not even the language....Buh, what can we do.... as a multicultural society....we are encouraged to not only save our culture ..... but to share it..... unfortunately sometimes I think this ...... sharing has gone too far....which is why we see communities now ..... taken over.

[oecarb]

Snow,

Interesting remarks about Sikhs.

In the UK Sikhs seem to be among the most adaptable of immigrants. They educate their children, they have gender equality as an underlying principle of their religion, they drink alcohol and celbrate every other peoples' religious occasions - from Christmas to Divali to Eid and, even Hannukah sometimes. They seem very tolerant. Many men do wear the turban but the women usually wear western clothes. They eat everything (except, in some cases, beef).

At least that is how it is in the UK.

[snowbird]

They do the same here... 'appear to assimilate'..... however they also have certain customs that run afoul to the rights guaranteed Canadians....and funny you should mention about their wives....as that is one big head ache for law enforcement..... the abuse of their wives...

http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/contro...use-forum.html

more and more groups such as these are cropping up.....even here in Ontario.... much to the dismay of the male Sikh population.

Right now there is also a very sad case of an 'honor killing' of a Canadian ordered by a Sikh family...don't know if we will every be able to bring them to justice:

http://www.boston.com/news/world/art...ng_police_say/


like the Muslims the Sikhs are a very patriarchal society....and it is for this reason that the fathers feel the need to be part of the system....so that they can dictate....exactly how and what their children are taught....this is all well and good if it is a 'private school'...however when your children are in the public school system.... you have to take into consideration that 'other' ethnic groups also have to be considered.... it is this attitude that now pits ...children against children...and things like 'gangs based on ethnic divisions are now causing problems in areas where these races dominate the area.

Not sure what is happening in the UK oecarb...but here in Canada.... many of these groups...some exploited by their own people are speaking out.... and the stories are not pretty

http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/I...buse_in_Canada

[Mr Majik]

Oecarb...I also find that, at least among the Indo-Pakistani population, that Sikhs do assimilate better. There's a town a little north of Vancouver named Squamish. Back in 1994 I spent some time there and was amazed to see teenage Sikh girls hanging out late at night by McDonald's and smoking cigarettes and cussing, just like their White Anglo sisters. I soon earned that their families had been in the area since the 1950s (they were immigrants coming for logging work). In fact, the area has had a Sikh presence since the late 1800s!
They were Canadian through and through, including bad habits. They didn't feel any tie to India at all.

I also learned then that Sikhs, at least those from the Punjab, also put less importance on higher education and more in labour than others from India and Pakistan. British Columbia, which has a very high proportion of Canada's Sikhs, also has many Sikh-owned farms and Sikh farm workers. The case Snow refers to, above, involves a very wealthy Sikh farming family.

As far as my town's popularity with Sikhs, it may be explained by a sentiment expressed in Hollywood Bollywood, a Toronto-made movie about a Hindu guy falling in love with a Sikh girl. At one point one of the characters notes that Sikhs like to live near the airport when they emigrate.
Our house is about a 10 minute drive to the airport, and we pass through a small suburb named Malton to get there. Malton has a huge Sikh presence also.