First of all, I live about 30 miles away (to the east) so I am familiar with what local taste is, more so than people who aren't from here. And to my eyes, if not to my personal taste, I think many of the things that are bugging others will be non-issues for local buyers. Sure, the window treatments, general color selections, etc., might be more up to date, but they are not serious local solecisms. If anything the living room looks awkward to me because the seating is shoved down against the windows and not grouped facing the fireplace. Have you considered moving the piano to the end and getting the sofa, and chairs closer to the fireplace?. It seems a more attractive focal point. The blue swags don't seem to work, perhaps because you have already removed from the room some coordinating blue items? The swags look like color orhpans, now. Some things which can't be easily changed: for instance the island-cooktop based kitchen design and the huge soaking tub in the master bath are likely to be problematic for some buyers. But again, those items are heavily-promoted "home upgrades/improvements" in this region. (People moving to the area may boggle, but after they've toured about looking at a good batch of houses for sale, they'll get over their shock.) The bigger issue is the perennial one: location. Niskayuna used to be (in the 1970s-1980s) a really prime upscale residential suburb. But the regional economy and the local employment picture has changed considerably since then. It has lost some of its cachet, even though it has not been physically degraded. The $439K price point is not a starter home here. It's more a mid-career level home. And many of those families are eschewing the older 'burbs and instead looking for flossier houses in new Saratoga County developments or more rural areas where they can purchase more land for that kind of money. A good chunk of local demand for housing like this, where it is, may be gone now that GE is so down-sized. The quality of the pictures isn't great so the realtor could be doing better there to make the house stand out. I think this Spring is going to be a tough selling environment (but probably good for buyers) as I think there will be a pent-up backlog of sellers who have been waiting for signs of a turn around. But, Zoe52, don't fret too much about the decor at this point. Your house might look like it needed major overhaul if it was located in other areas but for here it does not. It is not at a competitive disadvantage, which is the only thing that counts. Kudos for the solar panels. We have them, too. If you find you need more info to support their value/attractiveness in the sale post back here. I may be able to suggest some ways to help emphasize that aspect. Good luck! This weekend should be good house-hunting weather. And unlike other areas, you are an early-bird in the local Realty season. People farther south can't believe the Spring hasn't already been underway for weeks. My first daffs bloomed this week, too. Liriodendron.

congrats on the sale! BTW, I have a twin of your antique domed chest/trunk that is near the main staircase. Do you have any history about it? Mine still has the old yellowed label of the original manufaturer: William Peirce Carriage Manufacturer & Painter, Abington, Mass

Here is the decision(s) I did make. (So far) A year ago, we started a cosmetic/functional update of the one bathroom in my condo. When I took out a piece of bad drywall, I found a bricked-up window. Dead halt while I investigated the cost of installing an historically appropriate window ($8000-10,000). No sale. Then I decided to avoid taking up the mortarbed by glazing the tub and ugly tile. The tub started peeling at 3 weeks. The lifecycle cost of that project was about $40 a day. I stopped with a bathroom with no vanity, a wobbly toilet and bare lightbulbs. I found mosaic that duplicated the 1840 vestibule tile: $$$ I priced rectified subway tile:$$ I amused myself in the shower by pulling off the acrylic glazing. Yesterday I met with a contractor, and decided to cut to the chase, remove the wetbed, tub and tile and replace it with something I can live with whether I stay or go, not go cheap but not spend a lot White on White Daltile Octagon and dot with grey grout White Daltile Subway Plain white tub. I am at least going to stop holding myself hostage with half a bathroom and whether I put an offer on the other house (I will if all the stars align) and if I don't get to, because the house is sold...I have an ok bathroom and a house that is at least more marketable when the time comes.

For goodness sakes, Dad is 81. I've purchased homes with the owner's clothes still in the closet, junk 4 feet deep in the basement, and nothing updated or fixed for 40 years. That Realtor isn't wrong IF you have endless funds (looking at about 20K minimum right there unless you guys do some work), and time to spend. You are almost at the end of June. The time is NOW to get it sold. Things slow down a bit after the 4th. IF you want very top HGTV showroom dollar, (and highest commission possible for the Realtor),, follow all that advice. But it doesn't sound like the expenditure of effort is worth it for your Dad. Follow your gut. You are already willing to list under what the very top dollar is, from what you say, given the condition of the house. Do what you think is right and do not be dissuaded.