Too much space, cold winters and a love of travel are the reasons why Lorraine and Morton Wax are thinking of selling the Northbrook home they’ve lived in for 27 years. They’re not sure where they’d like to move but want to have the house ready for market when they decide.
The couple has maintained the mechanical systems, decorated and redecorated since buying it in 1963. Recently they asked Selling Points for suggestions on further improvements that will make it even more appealing to prospective buyers. In turn, we asked JoAnn Degnan of Coldwell Banker in Northbrook to visit with the Waxes and lend her advice.
“I feel like I want to be absolved of the burden of a large house,” Lorraine told her. “Our children live far away and this is more house than we need.”
The Colonial-style home was built in 1963. The exterior is buff-colored brick and white siding. The interior features four bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, formal living and dining rooms, an eat-in kitchen and a family room with hardwood floor and fireplace. There’s also a patio, full unfinished basement and two-car attached garage.
After touring the first floor and basement, Degnan praised the home’s neutral decor and neat appearance–both strong selling points.
“I like to see people store their things on the floor and against the walls,” she said. “It says you’re not worried about water.”
“You’re making it sound so good we may not leave,” Morton joked.
On the second floor, the master bedroom and bath are also neutrally decorated. The other three bedrooms are vividly appointed.
The first of the three has avocado green carpeting. The bedspread and curtains are made from a busy print of sports figures.
“Everything downstairs is so sleek and quiet and serene,” Degnan observed. “This doesn’t seem to fit your personality.”
“My son chose it,” Lorraine explained.
Degnan suggested removing the carpeting and treatments for the bed and windows.
Lorraine asked if she should put a valance over the windows so they don’t look bare. The broker told her she could do so if she wanted but didn’t have to. The white shades are sufficient and show off the paned windows nicely, she added.
The second bedroom, which Morton has taken over for his interests, is appointed with bright-blue carpeting and walls. Two of the walls are painted and two bear a blue geometric wallpaper print.
“I’d say neutralize as much as you can,” Degnan said. “If I could give you a hint, when companies transfer people and take over a home, they remove expensive carpeting and wallpaper if it is not neutral. That’s how they get top dollar.”
“This is wonderful carpeting,” said Lorraine, uncertain she wanted to part with it.
“You might not need to do it after you do the walls,” Degnan said.
“This wallpaper is beginning to get on my nerves, too,” Lorraine said.
The third bedroom, Lorraine’s sewing room, is painted lemon yellow and has blue shag carpeting. Again, the broker advised removing the color.
Because all the bedrooms have hardwood floors, she recommended that the couple not invest in new carpeting. Instead, she said, they should simply remove the old carpeting and have the wood cleaned and buffed.
Hardwood floors “are definitely an advantage,” she added. “A lot of people are having to install them. You have a treasure beneath this carpeting. If you didn’t have hardwood floors, I’d probably ask you to pick out a `relocation beige’ (shade of new carpeting).”
“Would you leave the floors bare or get area rugs?” Lorraine asked.
“I’d leave them bare,” Degnan replied. “There’s no point in buying rugs for a home you’re not going to be living in.”
One area Lorraine wondered about is the family room, where the walls are paneled in a light-colored wood. Should they paint over it? she asked.
Degnan said she wouldn’t. “It’s nice woodwork. The next person can always paint the walls. You do get some purists who would never paint a wood wall.”
Another area of concern is the wallpaper running up the stairwell and into the second floor hallway. The colors are white and beige, and the print is subdued.
“It’s something I’ve had up a very long time and I’m getting tired of it,” said Lorraine.
The agent said it is fine the way it is. “If it were a foil print I might ask you to get rid of it,” she said.
