Lessons From Listings Photos: This Polished Craftsman in Boise, ID, Fetches $1.5M

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We’ve been clocking the popularity of Boise, ID, for a while now. For one, the median home price has risen over the past three years from $364,000 to $579,000. Thanks to the rise of remote work, it’s one of the top cities where previously desk-bound workers living in expensive coastal cities have been moving. For them, Boise offers a lower cost of living in proximity to tech markets. It’s also home to a compact yet vibrant downtown featuring landmarks like the 95-year-old Egyptian Theatre.

Close by, the tree-lined North End neighborhood is known for its historic homes, including this beauty with massive curb appeal. The previous owners purchased the home in 2015 for a mere $341,500 and sold it last year for a whopping $1,516,000. Careful renovation choices and increasing buyer demand in the area undoubtedly helped boost the sale price, delivering a handsome profit.

Let’s take a look at the home before and after the renovation and hear what real estate and design experts have to say about this now-stylish Craftsman.

Front exterior

A bit of sprucing up in the front yard helps this property pop even before you walk in.

“A simple, clean entry draws a buyer in from even their first click online,” says Mariah Gossett Sutton, a real estate agent based in Boise and owner of Olive Branch Realty Group of Fathom Realty.

The previous owners were wise to keep the Craftsman charm intact while bringing it into the modern era with white, gray, and black hues, she adds.

Real estate agent Jack Kaltreider, based in Seattle, points out that the roof is clearly new and that some siding has been replaced. These updates make the home seem cared for and boost its value.

“The difference between a house flip and a quality remodel is in the quality of the finishes and the attention paid to the core structural integrity of the home. This seller took care to address both,” Kaltreider says.

Living room

As you step into the living room, it’s clear that the previous owners wanted to continue the neutral black and white theme inside the home.

Sutton points out that these hues and modern furniture choices add visual appeal to the space.

“Staging is particularly important in older homes where the rooms are smaller than in newer homes,” says Sutton. “Buyers might be wondering, ‘Where will we sit? Will our couch fit in here?’ A well-staged home prevents these questions from entering the buyers’ mind and increases their certainty that this is the home for them.”

Kaltreider says today’s homebuyers shopping in this price range will pay a premium for homes offering luxury finishes, so design choices like the chandelier and the floating media cabinet make the room look high-end.

Dining room

In the dining room, the previous homeowners worked magic by creating the illusion of higher ceilings, Kaltreider says. Before, the yellow and white walls featured a border just before the ceiling, stopping the eye and making the ceiling seem lower than it actually is.

“They painted the room entirely white so that the eye doesn’t catch a natural border,” he says.

The heavy curtains and an unimpressive light fixture weren’t doing the room any favors either, Kaltreider continues. Removing these elements helped open up the room, and a modern light fixture brightens the space and doesn’t force the eye to focus on a single spot.

Wall-to-wall shelving also helps magnify the space, says Sutton. “The black shelves add depth and intrigue, pulling the buyer into the dining room.”

Kitchen

The drab, lackluster kitchen from before gets a significant upgrade that fits the historical elegance of this century-old build.

“In older historical homes, kitchens can be a challenge as they were originally built to be tucked away and not thought of as the entertainment space buyers value today. This kitchen is a beautiful example of how to maintain the general, original footprint of the kitchen while updating it with new finishes and lighting,” says Sutton.

By pushing out the back wall and adding windows, the previous owners let in more light and increased the kitchen’s storage capacity, says Kaltreider.

And you’ll notice the previous owners brought the black and white theme into this room, too. This helps tie the entire home together and creates a cohesive flow from one room to the next.

Backyard

From a mess of dead plants to an expansive outdoor entertaining hub, this backyard is a place buyers could picture themselves in. The biggest change is the deck, which adds a lot of value in an area like Boise, where outdoor living is popular in the spring, summer, and fall.

Sutton explains that it’s crucial for sellers to stage outdoor spaces with furnishings to help create a vision buyers might otherwise not see.

“The seating area on the deck defines the space for the buyer. Even down to the pillows and small plants, these small details make this outdoor space cozy and dreamy,” Sutton says.

The post Lessons From Listings Photos: This Polished Craftsman in Boise, ID, Fetches $1.5M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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