The right way to Enhance the Resale Worth of a Craftsman Bungalow Residence

Craftsman bungalow houses are identified for his or her timeless structure, detailed woodwork, and alluring entrance porches, making them particularly interesting to consumers who worth character and craftsmanship. However when it comes time to promote, increasing the resale value of a Craftsman residence isn’t all the time about making the property look newer – it’s about preserving its defining options whereas thoughtfully updating the areas and methods fashionable consumers count on.

Whether or not you’re making ready to promote a Craftsman bungalow in Seattle, WA or renovating a character-filled home in Pasadena, CA, understanding which enhancements are price prioritizing could make all of the distinction. On this Redfin information, we’ll discover expert-backed methods to reinforce a Craftsman bungalow whereas staying true to its architectural roots, from strategic renovations to easy updates that make the house really feel recent and alluring.

On this article:
What is a Craftsman bungalow-style home?
Preserve the home’s original architecture and character
Address major systems before cosmetic upgrades
Upgrade windows and doors without sacrificing character
Improve energy efficiency
Keep the Craftsman’s traditional layout when possible
Boost curb appeal with Craftsman-appropriate colors and materials
Use paint and staging to create a fresh, inviting interior
How to increase the resale value of a Craftsman bungalow home: Final thoughts

What’s a Craftsman bungalow-style residence?

A Craftsman bungalow is a sort of early Twentieth-century residence identified for its emphasis on craftsmanship, pure supplies, and sensible design. The model grew out of the broader American Craftsman motion, which emerged as a response to the ornate Victorian structure of the late nineteenth century and favored less complicated varieties, handcrafted particulars, and a better connection to nature. Whereas Craftsman houses can differ in dimension and structure, bungalows are sometimes one or one-and-a-half-story houses with a low-profile design and a welcoming entrance porch.

Widespread options of a Craftsman bungalow embrace:

Low-pitched roof: Broad, gently sloping roofs usually function extensive, overhanging eaves and uncovered rafters.
Entrance porch: A outstanding coated porch, usually supported by tapered columns, is without doubt one of the model’s most recognizable options.
Pure supplies: Wooden, stone, brick, and different pure supplies are generally used to create a heat, handcrafted look.
Uncovered beams and rafters: Structural components are sometimes deliberately seen and included into the house’s design.
Constructed-in options: Constructed-in bookcases, cabinetry, benches, and different woodwork are frequent and add each character and performance.
Distinctive home windows: Craftsman bungalows could function grouped or divided-light home windows designed to enrich the house’s horizontal proportions.
Open however outlined dwelling areas: Whereas typically extra linked than older Victorian ground plans, Craftsman houses usually keep distinct dwelling, eating, and household areas relatively than fully open-concept layouts.
Emphasis on craftsmanship: Detailed woodwork, customized millwork, and thoroughly constructed architectural components give the houses their distinctive character.

>>Learn extra: Buying a Historic Home: What to Know Before You Buy and How to Preserve It

Protect the house’s unique structure and character

One of many greatest benefits of a Craftsman bungalow is its distinctive architectural character, so preserving unique particulars must be a precedence when making enhancements.

“When reworking a Craftsman bungalow, you will need to protect the architectural model of the house,” shares Jeffrey Nott at Nott & Associates. “Interval particulars like entrance porches and wooden beams give the house consolation and allure harkening again to a less complicated time.”

When updates are needed, goal to enrich the house’s current structure as a substitute of competing with it. Considerate restoration may also help keep the options that make a Craftsman bungalow distinctive whereas permitting householders to enhance consolation, performance, and general appeal for today’s buyers.

>>Try: What Is My Home Worth?

Handle main methods earlier than beauty upgrades

Older homes can have outdated or deteriorated elements that will floor throughout a purchaser’s inspection, probably creating pricey negotiations or making the property much less interesting. Addressing these tasks first can provide consumers larger confidence within the residence and assist make sure that beauty enhancements add polish relatively than distract from underlying points.

“You don’t need to hold every little thing unique, however you do need to hold it actual. Craftsman consumers learn supplies earlier than they learn options,” states Oren Amir at Go Home Builders. “Spend what you may behind the partitions on electrical, plumbing, basis bolting, and seismic retrofit – that’s what kills offers at inspection, and it’s the one factor you may’t repair after you’ve listed.”

Contemplate prioritizing:

Electrical: Have outdated wiring, service panels, or different electrical elements evaluated and up to date as wanted.
Plumbing: Handle growing older pipes, leaks, deteriorated drains, and different plumbing considerations earlier than itemizing.
Basis: Inspect the foundation for structural points and full needed repairs or reinforcement.
Seismic retrofits: In earthquake-prone areas, contemplate basis bolting and different seismic enhancements that may make the house safer and extra engaging to consumers.

Improve home windows and doorways with out sacrificing character

Home windows and doorways can have a significant impression on a Craftsman bungalow’s curb appeal, so changing them is a chance to enhance the house’s efficiency with out shedding its architectural character. If unique home windows are past restore, select replacements that echo the house’s current proportions, supplies, and divided-light patterns relatively than defaulting to generic fashionable types.

“If the home windows are shot, change them with wooden in the identical divided-lite sample, not vinyl.” Oren Amir recommends. “Identical logic within the kitchen: quartz with huge dramatic veining and cupboards wrapped in pretend wooden grain will date a home sooner than an outdated kitchen ever did.”

When selecting substitute home windows and doorways, contemplate:

Match the present window sample: Replicate the house’s unique divided-light or muntin sample every time potential.
Select complementary supplies: Wooden or wood-clad choices may also help keep the heat and character related to Craftsman structure.
Protect distinctive proportions: Take note of the dimensions, form, trim, and placement of current home windows and doorways.
Hold the entrance door genuine: If the unique door wants substitute, contemplate a wood-paneled design with glazing or different particulars that complement the house’s current home windows.

Enhance vitality effectivity

Enhancing vitality effectivity could make a Craftsman bungalow extra snug and interesting to consumers whereas probably serving to scale back ongoing utility prices. As a result of these houses had been usually constructed greater than a century in the past, updates resembling insulation, air sealing, and environment friendly HVAC methods can enhance efficiency with out requiring householders to sacrifice the architectural particulars that give the property its character.

“To extend the resale worth of a Craftsman bungalow, enhance vitality effectivity with appropriately styled home windows and doorways, insulation, and environment friendly HVAC methods,” suggests Cesar Espejo at Pasadena Craftsman. “Handle main methods resembling outdated plumbing, deteriorated cast-iron drains, knob-and-tube wiring, and {the electrical} service panel.”

Contemplate energy-efficient enhancements resembling:

Insulation: Add or enhance insulation in areas such because the attic, partitions, or crawl area the place acceptable.
Environment friendly HVAC: Exchange outdated heating and cooling gear with a extra environment friendly system sized appropriately for the house.
Air sealing: Handle drafts and air leaks round home windows, doorways, and different openings to enhance consolation and effectivity.
Power-efficient upgrades: Contemplate fashionable enhancements that stay visually appropriate with the house’s Craftsman structure.

Hold the Craftsman’s conventional structure when potential

When updating a Craftsman bungalow, resist the urge to fully reconfigure the ground plan merely to make the house really feel extra modern. Conventional Craftsman layouts had been designed to create a pure stream between dwelling areas whereas nonetheless giving rooms distinct functions, and options resembling outlined dwelling and eating areas can contribute to the house’s sense of character.

“Craftsman houses could not have the consolation and options of newer extra spacious kitchens, baths, and closets however resist going open idea fashionable,” says Jeffrey Nott. “Hold the formality of the Craftsman residence dwelling, eating, and household room. The purpose is to improve the home with out shedding the basic model and allure that makes a Craftsman residence so particular.”

Relatively than eradicating partitions to create one giant open-concept area, contemplate methods to enhance performance whereas preserving the house’s current structure:

Preserve outlined dwelling areas: Hold the dwelling, eating, and household rooms distinct when the unique ground plan permits.
Enhance stream: Use furnishings placement, lighting, and strategic openings to make rooms really feel linked with out eliminating their particular person identities.
Replace for contemporary wants: Add storage, enhance kitchen performance, or refresh bogs with out fully altering the house’s footprint.
Protect architectural particulars: Hold options resembling built-ins, columns, wooden trim, and openings between rooms that assist outline the Craftsman model.

Increase curb enchantment with Craftsman-appropriate colours and supplies

A Craftsman bungalow’s exterior is considered one of its greatest promoting factors, so considerate curb appeal enhancements may also help make a powerful first impression with out compromising the house’s character.

“For the outside, select a Craftsman three-color scheme that accentuates the home windows, porch, and woodwork,” Jeffrey Nott suggests.

When updating the outside, contemplate:

Select a complementary shade palette: Use two or three coordinated paint colors to tell apart the house’s foremost physique, trim, and accent options.
Spotlight architectural particulars: Use contrasting however complementary colours on home windows, porch columns, trim, and woodwork to make these options stand out.
Refresh the entrance porch: Restore worn wooden, railings, or columns and hold the porch inviting, since it’s usually one of many residence’s most recognizable options.
Don’t overlook the entrance door: A rigorously chosen stain or accent shade can draw consideration to the entry whereas complementing the remainder of the outside.

Use paint and staging to create a recent, inviting inside

A recent coat of paint and considerate staging may also help a Craftsman bungalow really feel brighter, extra welcoming, and move-in prepared with out requiring main renovations. The purpose is to make the inside really feel recent with out making it really feel generic.

“To extend the resale worth of a Craftsman bungalow, the concept is to honor its historic character whereas making it really feel recent, present, and alluring – as a result of residence decor and elegance, very similar to trend, evolves over time,” Ted Clark & Heather Lillard say. “Gentle, heat paint colours may also help brighten the interiors, whereas considerate staging can be utilized to melt wooden accents that usually outline Craftsman structure. The top result’s a recent really feel with out sacrificing the house’s unique allure.”

When making ready the inside on the market, contemplate:

Work with current wooden accents: As an alternative of portray over unique woodwork, use furnishings, textiles, and wall colours that soften or steadiness its visible weight.
Spotlight built-ins and architectural particulars: Prepare furnishings and decor so consumers discover unique cabinetry, beams, fireplaces, trim, and different character-rich options.
Hold staging inviting: Use appropriately scaled furnishings and easy decor to assist consumers image themselves dwelling within the area with out making rooms really feel crowded.
Create a cohesive look: Select a constant shade palette all through the house so the rooms really feel linked whereas retaining their particular person character.