By Jenna Ryan, Realtor 2014
Ceiling fans, light fixtures, chandeliers and sconces are very important for any home as they keep us cool and illuminate our living space. Home buyers today are most interested in properties with upgraded light fixtures and ceiling fans.
If you’re selling your home or plan to sell in the future, it’s a good idea to take a look at your existing ceiling fans and light fixtures to ensure that such items are updated. It’s amazing what a big difference updated accessories can do for your home. Most importantly, when you have upgraded ceiling fans, overhead lights and doorknobs, you can get more money for your home and sell it more quickly.
Upgrades like ceiling fans and lights are one of the easiest, most inexpensive way to add to the perceived value of your home. Spending a few hundred dollars on new ceiling fans can end up making you money on the sale of your home in the long run. It is DEFINITELY worth the upgrade cost when selling your home.
Now that I’ve convinced you to upgrade your ceiling fans and light fixtures, you may be wondering which kind you should get. I recommend going to Home Depot to select the fan you want. The fans at Home Depot are high quality and are in line with the preferences people have in homes they buy.
- Stick with the most general fan as possible. Don’t try to get creative with a ceiling fan unless you have a specific purpose. If you opt for a modern version, potential buyers may prefer traditional style; so it’s best to go as generic as possible without looking cheap.
- Match the other fixtures in your home. If there are other fixtures in your home that are updated, then you will want to match the fan to the existing fixtures that already updated. The goal is to seamlessly blend the ceiling fan in with the other aspects of the home.
- Get the same types of fans consistently throughout the home. Don’t buy different kinds of fans for every room in the house unless you are decorating for yourself or have some special purpose. This doesn’t mean you need to put a heavy duty fan in every room like you do the den, but rather, install different levels of the same type of fan with the same blade color and light style.
- Buy fans that match the price level of home. Buy fans that fit in with the home in terms of quality and materials. If your home is under $200,000 you can get away with an inexpensive fan. If your home is over $500,000, you will need a fan with more speeds, features and an upscale look. Buying a $1000 ceiling fan for a home that’s worth $100,000 would be overkill. Keep the fan style in line with the level of your home.
- Buy fans with neutral, natural colors. Fans come in all shapes and sizes, just as our preferences do. You can get a colored fan, a white fan, a modern fan a painted fan, however, it is best to stick with what people are used to seeing and what they prefer. Most people want fans that are dark in color (faux wood) with modest lighting.
- Install fans with aged iron or brushed metal trim. Steer clear of shiny gold trim whenever possible. Gold trim is a product of the 1980s that people are no longer wanting. Having gold anywhere in your house can lessen its perceived value including doorknobs, light fixtures, faucets and ceiling fans. Replacing these items is inexpensive and will pay you back in the eventual sales price of your home. Silver, copper, bronze, black trim is much preferred by today’s home buyer.
Replacing outdated fans, lights and hardware in your home is a great way to increase the perceived value without spending a lot of money. The best place to go is Home Depot with many different options. You can install the fan yourself or have a handyman or electrician do it. No matter what, make sure your ceiling fans live up to the beauty of your home. Please, especially if I’m listing it for you. 🙂