Home Sales and Lighting

With increased interest rates, existing homes are not selling at the rate they were a year ago. The hyper-charged seller’s market has softened and owners must again find ways to entice buyers. According to a number of sources, homes that require some level of rehab are even more difficult to sell. The combination of initial price, higher interest rates and the cost of the rehab, to say nothing of the problems encountered when trying to find and hire a contractor, move-in-ready houses can make all the difference.

That raises the question, “Is it necessary to swap out the lighting during a pre-sale rehab?”

You’re reading commentary written by a lighting guy, so the answer to the question might be self-evident. If all of the lighting supplied in the home is decorative, then that answer too, might be self-evident. There are however, a few other factors that could come into play. Following are some guidelines to help answer the question, “Do I need to replace the lighting to quicken a real estate sale?”

Finish

What finish is the lighting? Like all fashion, the material finish carries with it, a date of expiration. If you still have a textured sand chandelier in the dining room, YES you must replace it. Same with Verdigris, multi-layered umber paints and a painted brick-mahogany color. If the lighting is finished in Oil-Rubbed Bronze, or painted in a similar dense bronze, there is a 75% likelihood that it will need to be replaced. The Bronze trend lasted longer in the “middle” of the United States and portions of Canada, so you might have a more forgiving buyer than those who are seeking homes in more populous areas and on each coast of North America.

The popularity of Brushed Nickel is winding down right now. If the satin or brushed nickel is used on more traditional products, you might be able to get by without a change. If it is on a more contemporary designed product, the brushed finish will appear dated. These should go.

You’ll be OK if the lighting is finished in Chrome, Natural Brass, Matte Black or White. Polished Brass will define the product and design of the space as firmly planted in the 1990s. Respond accordingly.

Style

Heavy Olde-European looks with scores of scrolls and crystal droplets are a telltale sign the lighting was installed in the early part of the millennium. You will need to replace this lighting. Same thing with Mission or Arts & Crafts lighting. Tiffany-style lamps, unless they are original Tiffany art pieces should also be replaced. These will provide hints to the buyer that you haven’t redecorated since the Bush administration, a time when Donald Trump was still considered a successful businessman.

The era of Modern Industrial design is over. Vintage Edison lamps, exposed inside all the luminaires in the home will look older and older each week. Because of its design specificity, like the Tuscan kitchen, it can quickly be identified as an old look. It is very likely you will need to make a change here, unless you can somehow contemporize the look with a simple change of glass, lamping or shades.

Despite what a recent New York Times article suggested, the shine is definitely off the Farmhouse-look, but there are still enough people who haven’t got the notice yet (the point of the article.) There are also easier ways to mask this trend, so you are probably OK to leave it alone. There are a few years of forgiveness left on Mid-Century Modern, especially if it is not too specific in its implementation. If there is a way to drive the feel more toward Art Deco, that should be tried, as well. It might be helpful in attracting some hyper-aware buyers.

Stark, cool, Hard Contemporary is softening, so you might need to find ways to polish the edges off the crisp look. A warmer room color might negate the need to replace some of the internal products. In all likelihood, you can leave this lighting alone and the future buyer will be happy.

Homes with an eclectic look, parred-down traditional, transitional and softer contemporary styles will be fine. Spend rehab money elsewhere.

Type

A big, three-tier chandelier in the foyer is a telltale sign of age. (There is some regionality in this observation; the middle of the country employing them longer than other areas.) Swapping this to a cascading suite of pendants will elevate the entry and make it feel newer.

A collection of mushroom-shaped glass diffusers marching down the hallways can also add an older look to the home. A swap to slender surface-mounted lighting, or replacing them with recessed cans/pot lighting will elevate the look of the whole house.

If the bathroom mirror is surrounded by rows of clear ball-shaped light bulbs, just like a Hollywood makeup station, then it is time for a change. There are many LED strip options now on the market. Be certain they deliver adequate lumens of light and they will be an excellent alternative to the old-school lighting of the 1980-90s.

Are the mini-pendants over the island in the kitchen really small? Are they perhaps, cobalt blue? If so, these are ripe for change. Larger mini-pendants are now needed. If the ceiling height is 9’-0” or greater, be sure to select taller pieces. If the island is wider/larger, move to pendants in the 12”+ range. They will feel more in-sync with today and the way kitchens are used currently.

Functional Lighting

The more functional light is used, the less alteration is needed. A prospective buyer will not regard this type of light to be detrimental. They will not see functional lighting as something that will require post-purchase dollars. Sure, newer recessed lighting might be desired and a swap to new under-cabinet lighting might be nice, but it will not trigger the same warning flags as a big fluorescent box of light in the center of the kitchen. Don’t allow dated lighting to be the reason a house doesn’t sell.