When Dan and Karen Glickauf moved into their stately two-story, red brick, colonial home, they hired a decorator who meticulously coordinated colors, papers and textures according to the fashion of the day. The day, however, was in the mid-`70s. And while the overall effect of intermingled blues, yellows and greens remains stunning, it`s also reminiscent of another era.
Recent empty nesters, the Glickaufs are thinking about buying a smaller home sometime this year. They have lived in their Evanston home for 20 years, so it`s been awhile since they have explored the housing market.
Ann Eubank of Prudential Preferred Properties in Evanston consulted with the couple and suggested steps to maximize their home`s selling price.
Built in 1953, the four-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath home has a formal dining room and an eat-in kitchen, a family room that could be converted to a first-floor bedroom, and a large, open back porch that can be reached from the kitchen and living room.
The home sits on an elevated 50-by-200-foot lot in a wooded residential neighborhood.
Buyer`s perspective
First, Eubank suggested, the couple should place themselves in the buyer`s shoes by attending a few open houses and then looking at their own home with the same critical eye.
”Coming up to the house from the street, you have it made,” she said.
”You`ve got good curb appeal and a nice, open entry. This is a great house, larger than many in this area.”
Beyond the front door, the bold colors need to be toned down to appeal to today`s buyers, she said. The foyer is lined with a blue and green wallpaper; the carpeting throughout the L-shaped living and dining room is a variegated blue and green, while the walls are painted chartreuse. Upholstery and drapery patterns follow a similar theme.
”I think we`ll have to repaint, but I don`t know how far we want to go,” said Karen.
Eubank advised taking one step at a time, starting by painting the living room and dining room walls a creamy white and removing the foyer wallpaper. She said she has mixed feelings about the variegated carpet, which is in good condition. The rest of the home is carpeted in more neutral colors.
”You have all hardwood floors and today people like at least some of their floors uncovered,” she said. ”I think if I were to take up any of your carpeting, I would do (it in this area) simply because of the strong color scheme.”
Lighten up
The Glickaufs` fondness for color is also apparent in the master bedroom, which is painted a brilliant blue. Eubank recommended lightening the intensity, perhaps to a soft gray, to harmonize with the slate-blue carpeting. A few years ago, the paneling in the family room was refinished to give it a pale green antiqued look. ”I`d do it in white, but it isn`t a high priority with me,” said Eubank. ”I`d tone down the brighter colors first.” The kitchen could also use an infusion of light and bright, she noted. The Glickaufs already had decided to replace the wallpaper, now a combination of two vivid prints, and were wondering whether they needed to replace the walnut-colored cabinets.
Eubank said no. Instead, they can just put up a subdued wallpaper-or paint the walls white-and then touch up the knicks and scratches on the cabinetry, she suggested. To let more light into they room, the yellow ruffled curtains can be replaced with lace ones, Eubank said. ”They`re using lace in all kinds of homes today.”
One big job Daniel and Karen see before them is cleaning out the full basement. Treasures and family mementoes are stored in boxes, on shelves and in cabinets. But from Eubank`s perspective, the Glickaufs are well-organized. ”Having stuff isn`t a detriment as long as it is stored neatly, which you have done,” she said. ”People can see they can do a lot of things with all this space.”
”These are all very sensible ideas,” said Karen.
”I`m impressed,” said Daniel. ”You`ve confirmed some of the things we`ve heard, such as using off-white colors, and given them added support. Now we just digest everything and move on.”
