Why You Might Want To Keep Up With The Joneses

We’ve heard all our lives that Keeping Up With the Joneses is bad. Really bad. But after spending a little time studying real estate, I’ve realized that actually, it might be good for you. I know. I’m blowing your mind. Hang with me.

A basic principle of real estate is homogeny. Homes, in theory, should look like they go together.

This might conjure up the words “spec”, “tract”, or “cookie cutter” which is probably why we all shy away from this principle of sameness and yet we need at least a little bit of it.

We’ve probably all seen a contemporary home stuck right in the middle of a traditional neighborhood. Maybe you think the modern home looks cool, but it just doesn’t feel right. If the house happens to be right in the middle of the city, it might stand a chance at being sold for top dollar, but out in the suburbs it might sit on the market for no apparent reason.

Neighborhoods generally crave similarity in spirit, which is why you really want to think through updates you make to your home, both inside and out.

Scandinavia is very forward thinking and I see that a lot of their design perspectives are quickly permeating the global market. The black, white, and grey color combination is being used even here in a very conservative South, which of course, I LOVE.

But, The real issue is when we renovate our homes, that Scandinavian style may hurt us in the end.

Can we take beautiful photos like these and replicate them in our homes? If you happen to be in a big city like New York or Midtown Atlanta then you will likely reap huge financial rewards from an update like this, but in the suburbs you may want to consider the materials and colors and use finishes that are just a bit more traditional. Push towards the edge, but don’t fall off.

You could also do whatever you want, knowing that you will either have to change it to sell it later or hope that a buyer comes along who shares your tastes.

What Do you Think? Would This Home Fit In Your Neighborhood?