Posted over 6 years ago

Your Taste is Terrible. Why You Need a Designer.

Admit it - your strong suit is probably not selecting the perfect paint color.

Nor selecting pinterest-worthy materials.

Nor making your property look like something out of a magazine.

And guess what, your trades people aren't either. They are skilled at painting/roofing/flooring/etc - NOT selecting the product color/finish/style/etc.

The core of our business is attracting buyers or tenants to desirable homes, yet we leave the most visible parts of the home to chance.

But, it's just a rental you may say. So, does that mean your tenants are blind? Or don't value an attractive home? What about when you sell? The new buyer won't fall in love with ugly or outdated. Last I checked paint cost the same regardless of the color. And most flooring. And many faucets, light fixtures, and other products.

So how do the design-challenged avoid investing in ugly renovations?

Find a designer. Taking the time to find and work with a skilled designer will ensure your finished product is as beautiful and project-appropriate as your budget will allow. While you will need to invest in professional advice at times, I have found many FREE design sources.

FREE DESIGN RESOURCES

Exterior Paint

One of the largest expenses, longest-lasting finishes, and biggest influences on the appeal of a home. The difference between not-quite-right and exactly right can make a huge difference in curb appeal.

Since I live outside of the U.S. I use Houzz to find color palettes. For my last project, I knew I wanted a colorful front door, but period-appropriate colors. Here is what I found on Houzz, and the finished product. Notice I could see the final application in the photo, which is important since NO ONE can tell what paint will look like spread across a wall from a tiny chip. Moreover, the color palette from Houzz has the exact color codes, so my painter could easily source the right colors.

Another secret weapon is the in-store color experts at many Benjamin Moore stores. I have successfully used their expertise to find stunning paint colors several times.

Interior Finishes

If you are holding your property, do you want tenants or a prospective buyer looking at a kitchen that is already dated in 10 short years? Stick to simple and classic - avoid the trends.

White is clean and classic, and always appropriate for cabinets and tile.
Be period appropriate. Sleek, modern finishes are out of place in a classic Victorian, nor will a farmhouse sink look right in a mid-century modern home. Even if is it new. And on sale.
Classic woods like oak, pine, and maple for flooring is always a good choice.
Be consistent in your metals - if you're going chrome specify it for everything (door knobs, hinges, faucets, towels bars, etc).
Beware of manufacturer close-outs - they may be on sale since they're out of style (early 2000s cherry cabinets and black granite anyone?).
For interior paint colors see this excellent post: "4 Best Paint Colors to Paint a Rental"

Follow an Expert

Like tenant law, tax code changes, and mortgage rates we may not get excited by these things, but finding an expert that can give you solid advice is key. By simply following one or more designer's blogs or social-media feeds, you can get tons of free advise and design inspiration. I follow these two designers:

Create a Style Guide. Once you have invested in specifying all the materials for your remodel, be sure to create a detailed style guide to leverage across properties. For more on this, see my blog post on why and how to create a style guide.

WHEN YOU SHOULD INVEST IN PAID EXPERTISE

Despite all the free resources out there, sometimes it is important to invest in paying a designer.

You outsource like a Pro.

Like many aspects of real estate, maybe you should outsource your design. If you don't have the time, inclination, skill, or interest to invest in design specifications yourself, finding and paying a skilled designer is a good investment. You may be surprised at how affordable the cost is - especially with a designer that offers e-consultations. Paying a few hundred dollars for a designer to spec the right paint color is a marginal cost compared to the cost of paint and labor.

Your property has fixed finishes.

If your property has a non-changeable material like stone or window frames, matching other finishes like paint, tile, flooring, or counter tops to that material is difficult. Creating harmony between your colors and finishes takes time and skill. If you miss the mark, you risk an ugly (and expensive mistake). A designer can help you hit the mark.

You are doing a major remodel.

If you're going down to the studs, you will need to specify a myriad of details. This is not only time-consuming but as I previously stated, creating an appealing, harmonious space takes skill. A knowledgeable designer will know what to look for, and how to specify the right materials from the macro to the micro. And, as I already mentioned, you can possibly leverage this across multiple projects to get greater value out of your investment.

Accountants, bankers, mentors, electricians, property managers. As property owners we invest a lot of time and effort into building our team. If you work with value-add properties, don't over-look one of the most critical members of your team: the designer.