Craftsman bungalow properties are recognized for his or her timeless structure, detailed woodwork, and welcoming entrance porches, making them particularly interesting to patrons who worth character and craftsmanship. However when it comes time to promote, increasing the resale value of a Craftsman residence isn’t at all times about making the property look newer – it’s about preserving its defining options whereas thoughtfully updating the areas and programs fashionable patrons anticipate.
Whether or not you’re getting ready to promote a Craftsman bungalow in Seattle, WA or renovating a character-filled residence 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 contemporary and welcoming.
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 recognized for its emphasis on craftsmanship, pure supplies, and sensible design. The type 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 kinds, handcrafted particulars, and a better connection to nature. Whereas Craftsman properties can differ in measurement and format, bungalows are sometimes one or one-and-a-half-story properties 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 broad, overhanging eaves and uncovered rafters.
- Entrance porch: A outstanding coated porch, usually supported by tapered columns, is likely one of the type’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 parts are sometimes deliberately seen and integrated into the house’s design.
- Constructed-in options: Constructed-in bookcases, cabinetry, benches, and different woodwork are widespread 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 residing areas: Whereas usually extra linked than older Victorian ground plans, Craftsman properties usually keep distinct residing, eating, and household areas quite than fully open-concept layouts.
- Emphasis on craftsmanship: Detailed woodwork, customized millwork, and punctiliously constructed architectural parts give the properties their distinctive character.
>>Learn extra: Shopping for a Historic Dwelling: What to Know Earlier than You Purchase and Methods to Protect It
Protect the house’s authentic structure and character
One of many largest benefits of a Craftsman bungalow is its distinctive architectural character, so preserving authentic particulars ought to be a precedence when making enhancements.
“When transforming a Craftsman bungalow, you will need to protect the architectural type of the house,” shares Jeffrey Nott at Nott & Associates. “Interval particulars like entrance porches and wooden beams give the house consolation and attraction harkening again to an easier time.”
When updates are crucial, intention to enrich the house’s present structure as an alternative of competing with it. Considerate restoration may also help keep the options that make a Craftsman bungalow distinctive whereas permitting owners to enhance consolation, performance, and general enchantment for at this time’s patrons.
>>Take a look at: What Is My Dwelling Price?
Handle main programs earlier than beauty upgrades
Older properties can have outdated or deteriorated elements which will floor throughout a purchaser’s inspection, doubtlessly creating pricey negotiations or making the property much less interesting. Addressing these initiatives first may give patrons better confidence within the residence and assist be certain that beauty enhancements add polish quite than distract from underlying points.
“You don’t need to preserve every part authentic, however you do need to preserve it actual. Craftsman patrons 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.”
Take into account prioritizing:
- Electrical: Have outdated wiring, service panels, or different electrical elements evaluated and up to date as wanted.
- Plumbing: Handle ageing pipes, leaks, deteriorated drains, and different plumbing considerations earlier than itemizing.
- Basis: Examine the inspiration for structural points and full crucial repairs or reinforcement.
- Seismic retrofits: In earthquake-prone areas, take into account basis bolting and different seismic enhancements that may make the house safer and extra engaging to patrons.
Improve home windows and doorways with out sacrificing character
Home windows and doorways can have a significant influence on a Craftsman bungalow’s curb enchantment, so changing them is a chance to enhance the house’s efficiency with out dropping its architectural character. If authentic home windows are past restore, select replacements that echo the house’s present proportions, supplies, and divided-light patterns quite than defaulting to generic fashionable kinds.
“If the home windows are shot, change them with wooden in the identical divided-lite sample, not vinyl.” Oren Amir recommends. “Similar logic within the kitchen: quartz with large dramatic veining and cupboards wrapped in pretend wooden grain will date a home sooner than an outdated kitchen ever did.”
When selecting alternative home windows and doorways, take into account:
- Match the present window sample: Replicate the house’s authentic 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 scale, form, trim, and placement of present home windows and doorways.
- Maintain the entrance door genuine: If the unique door wants alternative, take into account a wood-paneled design with glazing or different particulars that complement the house’s present home windows.
Enhance power effectivity
Enhancing power effectivity could make a Craftsman bungalow extra snug and interesting to patrons whereas doubtlessly serving to cut back ongoing utility prices. As a result of these properties have been usually constructed greater than a century in the past, updates resembling insulation, air sealing, and environment friendly HVAC programs can enhance efficiency with out requiring owners to sacrifice the architectural particulars that give the property its character.
“To extend the resale worth of a Craftsman bungalow, enhance power effectivity with appropriately styled home windows and doorways, insulation, and environment friendly HVAC programs,” suggests Cesar Espejo at Pasadena Craftsman. “Handle main programs resembling outdated plumbing, deteriorated cast-iron drains, knob-and-tube wiring, and {the electrical} service panel.”
Take into account energy-efficient enhancements resembling:
- Insulation: Add or enhance insulation in areas such because the attic, partitions, or crawl house the place acceptable.
- Environment friendly HVAC: Substitute outdated heating and cooling tools 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.
- Vitality-efficient upgrades: Take into account fashionable enhancements that stay visually appropriate with the house’s Craftsman structure.
Maintain the Craftsman’s conventional format when potential
When updating a Craftsman bungalow, resist the urge to fully reconfigure the ground plan merely to make the house really feel extra fashionable. Conventional Craftsman layouts have been designed to create a pure movement between residing areas whereas nonetheless giving rooms distinct functions, and options resembling outlined residing and eating areas can contribute to the house’s sense of character.
“Craftsman properties could not have the consolation and options of newer extra spacious kitchens, baths, and closets however resist going open idea fashionable,” says Jeffrey Nott. “Maintain the formality of the Craftsman residence residing, eating, and household room. The objective is to enhance the house with out dropping the basic type and attraction that makes a Craftsman residence so particular.”
Relatively than eradicating partitions to create one giant open-concept house, take into account methods to enhance performance whereas preserving the house’s present format:
- Preserve outlined residing areas: Maintain the residing, eating, and household rooms distinct when the unique ground plan permits.
- Enhance movement: 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 loos with out fully altering the house’s footprint.
- Protect architectural particulars: Maintain options resembling built-ins, columns, wooden trim, and openings between rooms that assist outline the Craftsman type.
Increase curb enchantment with Craftsman-appropriate colours and supplies
A Craftsman bungalow’s exterior is one among its largest promoting factors, so considerate curb enchantment enhancements may also help make a robust 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, take into account:
- Select a complementary coloration palette: Use two or three coordinated paint colours 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 preserve the porch inviting, since it’s usually one of many residence’s most recognizable options.
- Don’t overlook the entrance door: A fastidiously chosen stain or accent coloration can draw consideration to the entry whereas complementing the remainder of the outside.
Use paint and staging to create a contemporary, inviting inside
A contemporary 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 objective is to make the inside really feel contemporary 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 contemporary, present, and welcoming – as a result of residence decor and magnificence, very like 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 always outline Craftsman structure. The tip result’s a up to date really feel with out sacrificing the house’s authentic attraction.”
When getting ready the inside on the market, take into account:
- Work with present wooden accents: As an alternative of portray over authentic woodwork, use furnishings, textiles, and wall colours that soften or steadiness its visible weight.
- Spotlight built-ins and architectural particulars: Organize furnishings and decor so patrons discover authentic cabinetry, beams, fireplaces, trim, and different character-rich options.
- Maintain staging inviting: Use appropriately scaled furnishings and easy decor to assist patrons image themselves residing within the house with out making rooms really feel crowded.
- Create a cohesive look: Select a constant coloration palette all through the house so the rooms really feel linked whereas retaining their particular person character.
Methods to enhance the resale worth of a Craftsman bungalow residence: Closing ideas
Rising the resale worth of a Craftsman Bungalow house is all about putting the best steadiness between preserving its authentic character and making considerate updates for contemporary patrons. From addressing main programs and enhancing power effectivity to refreshing kitchens, enhancing curb enchantment, and selecting genuine supplies, strategic enhancements may also help a Craftsman Bungalow really feel each timeless and move-in prepared.
