It's kind of funny to read these comments. Though, I'm not sure how funny it is to say that because someone likes a blah house they don't know how to decorate. Just because the color palate is neutral doesn't mean their decor and furnishings are blah. Honestly, I would much prefer a blah color that I could live with for a while over a sage green or purple that makes me feel bad. The whole point of choosing a color scheme for selling is to create an environment that is friendly for almost everyone. Some might think my color choices are blah, but not one potential buyer or their agents have had anything but good things to say about the colors. I don't think my decor is blah either and fortunately for me I can change out my accessories without having to repaint anything...which is what I'm looking for when I go house shopping in the future. While a purple (no offense to the one with the purple room) dining room would not keep me from buying a house, I would make sure to rule out any other houses first that I didn't have to paint immediately. In the current market we're in, there are alot of houses to compete with and expressing your artistic side isn't necessarily going to sell your house quickly. It sort of stinks, but that's the way it is. I still stand my SW #16 color card...love that blah-ness. sylviatexas, love your advice!!

"And yes, you may not recoup the $6000 granite costs, but if you would have left it outdated, the offers would reflect more than a $6000 hit. That is just the wau buyers are. So, in that respect, it will pay off." "Paying off" means you get your money back. Not very likely. Maybe you can rationalize it with the carrying costs eliminated with a faster sale, but that is more of an investors point of view than a homeowner. Most folks move directly from one house to another, so there is no actual 'carrying cost' since they are living in the house. Unless you have an absolute disaster, improvements rarely return their cost. They do NOT 'pay off' in that sense. 'Improvements' to things that every buyer expects (plumbing, heat, cooling in many places, electric, a roof that does not leak, etc.) are NOT going to 'pay back' either. You are restoring the price back to 'base' level, not upgrading.

The OP's induction cooktop will fit a specific size and shape cutout in the countertop. Replacement is easy is you can find one that fits the exact same hole. But if a replacement needs a different hole, buyers are looking at countertop modification or replacement. Depending on the countertop, that may or may not be a big deal. But to some buyers this may seem like "too much work." I think you're borrowing trouble here. Cooktops do come in fairly standard sizes so while there is variation, it's not usually much if you're looking at the major appliance brands. When we moved into this 60-70's Leavittown house last year, the original cooktop was STILL in the kitchen (coiltop with pushbutton control). We replaced it with an induction cooktop very easily. DH threw the circuit breaker, took out the old cooktop, unwrapped the new one, installed some clips and plunked in the new cooktop. Voila.

Thai is a great compact variety, that also can double as an ornamental. For a small sweet variety. I would say Gypsy. While I have not grown them in containers. The ones I planted in ground were well behaved. They topped out at about 3 feet for the tallest one. Bushy factor of them was about a foot to a foot and half. So it would take a good while for one to get root bound in a 1 gal container. The production I had out of the ones I have planted was outstanding. They are very prolific. 3 to 4 inch long fruits that go from green to yellow, to orange, then to red. The sweet flavor of a red bell. With a nice crunch. Also they keep the sweet flavor if they are fried as well.