Should I modernize my old house for resale value?
Friends and contractors constantly push you to rip out pristine original features just to appeal to more buyers and get a better price. This pressure makes it extremely difficult to find professionals willing to do minor updates without insisting on replacing everything to make the house look like a modern hotel.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
Should I modernize my old house for resale value?
- 1Embracing the original aesthetic and refusing to follow modern trends.Did this help you?
- 2Doing 'period appropriate' renovations that update functionality but keep the vintage style.Did this help you?
- 3Only renovating when systems like plumbing actually break or fail.Did this help you?
- 4Updating modern appliances but preserving original cabinetry and architectural features.Did this help you?
- 5Ignoring unsolicited opinions from friends and contractorsDid this help you?
- 6Brightening the space with fresh paint and lighting while keeping original woodworkDid this help you?
- 7Replacing irreparable elements with era-appropriate materials instead of modern onesDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“It feels like we're in a weird position that if we ever want to sell, we HAVE to renovate to get more value out of the home because it would appeal to more people.”source ↗
“A lot of people tell me to change it all and make it look modern. But I like the old look. It feels warm, and it feels like home. I do not want a house that looks like a hotel. Would you keep the old look, or change it all to look new?”source ↗
“I've been told my oak 4 panel doors with mortise locks and brass hardware is "dated". I love it.”source ↗
“The biggest issue with dated homes is that people try to decorate it like a modern home.”source ↗
“I have known people who have said we should do this because if we sell it, it would be a better price.”source ↗
“My house is 100yo and the kitchen cabinets are beautiful. Finding someone who would help us replace the counters and backsplash (irreparably broken old tile) without wrecking the pristine old cabinets and replacing them with ikea was very difficult.”source ↗
“And I’ll say that a contractor friend of mine said he would tear down the log cabin part. And I’m like, fuck that, it’s the best and most interesting part of the house and is structurally solid.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
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- 29How to fix previous owner DIY nightmares
- 2Why do we wait years to fix things that still work?
- 9Why does home maintenance feel like a never-ending job?