Joanna Gaines Fans Profit As ‘Fixer Upper’ Style Modern Farmhouses Sell for 10 Percent More On Average
Plenty of interior designers are sick to death of the modern farmhouse trend. After Fixer Upper became the most-watched show on HGTV, eager home renovators flocked to their local home goods stores, hoping to bring a little piece of Chip and Joanna Gaines home with them. Suddenly, everyone wanted shiplap and oversized clocks in on their walls, too.
The modern farmhouse trend shows no sign of slowing down. Love it or hate it, the aesthetic reflects what people want right now — and it’s translating into dollar signs. It turns out copying Joanna Gaines and her signature farmhouse chic designs could make you some extra cash when it comes time to sell your house.
‘Fixer Upper’ was a breath of fresh air on HGTV
There are so many reasons people fell in love with Fixer Upper when it premiered in 2013. Chip and Joanna were an adorable married couple who clearly loved and respected each other. Despite Joanna’s lack of professional training, she is clearly a talented interior designer with real vision for just about any raw space. Fans were mesmerized by the incredible transformations she was able to create.
Fixer Upper promised to take “the worst house in the best neighborhood” and transform it into a dream home. In every episode, Joanna delivered on that promise by sticking to a tried-and-true formula that used the same elements over and over.
Modern farmhouses are all the rage right now
It’s easy to spot a home inspired by Joanna Gaines and the so-called “Fixer Upper effect.” These houses usually include farmhouse style details such as reclaimed wood, barn doors, clawfoot tubs, subway tile, exposed beams, hardwood floors, and restored architectural elements. The goal is to take something old and make it look new, not replace it.
And those renovations are attracting buyers like nothing else. According to a recent Zillow report, mentioning “modern farmhouse” in a real estate listing tends to lead to a 10.3% sales price increase, which on average equates to around $25,000. In plain speak: Fixer Upper style modern farmhouses are making the most money for sellers.
Joanna Gaines style modern farmhouses aren’t going away
Design trends come and go. But the modern farmhouse has been going strong for years and shows no sign of slowing down. “Some design trends look great in a photograph, but don’t reflect the way most Americans live,” Zillow Lifestyle Expert Amanda Pendleton told PR Newswire.
“The modern farmhouse trend seems to be enduring because of its livability. It has a more casual, rustic aesthetic that is meant to be lived in; nothing is precious and the more wear and patina, the better, which makes it so appealing to buyers with children or pets.”
There’s a good chance that home renovators will move on to something different soon — but a more likely outcome is a fusion of multiple trends, like a modern style with subtle farmhouse elements instead of strictly one or the other.
Want to sell your house quickly? Catch a few rerun episodes of Fixer Upper and take copious notes. Joanna will show you how it’s done.
