News flash: I hate chocolate. I do. However, I purchase a fair amount of chocolate. I pass it out on Halloween, I stuff it in Christmas stockings, I include it in Easter baskets, and I often whip something up that includes chocolate when making a dessert for guests or family. Why bother though if I have no personal interest in the product? Because 81% of the U.S. population loves it. In fact, as of 2023, the global chocolate industry is worth 127.9 billion U.S. dollars. For those of you looking at chocolate as an investment, that number has continued to grow exponentially since 2021. Perhaps stress is a factor. Either way, the popularity of the product is definitive.

I mention this for the sole purpose of comparison. I have had some recent experiences in which this subject of the proverbial chocolate is relevant. In fact, the subject comes up frequently among the entire real estate community. As an example, I could adamantly declare that over the last five years or so, I have seen enough of the color gray to last me a lifetime. Fifty shades wouldn’t even begin to cover the varieties of gray I have seen in people’s homes. At some point, someone with more influence than Oprah determined that gray would be the interior home color of the year for the next half a decade. This is why, despite my dislike for the color, I had my last home repainted in Repose Gray before selling. I knew it would sell faster and for more money than it would have if I had kept it Camel Hair Beige, which was popular in the late 1990s to early 2000s. I also had my golden oak cabinets refinished in white and attached brushed nickel hardware. This did not increase the appraised value of the home; however, it did increase appeal and ability to escalate above full ask price offers. In other words, it worked.

The popular mantra “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” doesn’t always apply here. Both my sister and I resided in a bedroom in the basement of my childhood home. I loved my room and spent many hours reading, writing and, at night, sneaking out of this room. My favorite part of my haven from chaos was the accent wall. While three of the walls boasted white paneling with gold-accented grooves, the best wall was decorated with the coolest, grooviest, most psychedelic wallpaper available for the time. Pepto Pink, Raging Orange, and Tomato Red, the paper featured flowers, lips and peace signs. Although this décor was far from “restful” for a bedroom, it was my favorite part of our 1970s home. It never broke; however, it was, albeit wistfully, replaced for the purpose of resale.

More than once, I have been pitched the idea by sellers that the current décor can be termed “retro” and decisively remain untouched with no reduction in comparable value to updated homes surrounding the area. To this, my response would be something along the lines describing myself showing up for our next appointment donning my new Flock of Seagulls hairdo, shoulder-pad jacket and Gloria Vanderbilt jeans with a side-dish of leg warmers. There is nothing I would like more than to tease the long bangs of my permed hair straight up and glue it in place with a super-sized can of extra-hold Aqua Net. This usually does the trick. If not, we must reduce the ask price. After all, the definition of “retro” is not “dated.” The definition is “imitative of style, fashion or design from the recent past.”

It is a tough mentality to suddenly need to reshape. As much as we would like to coin our society as minimalistic consumers, I would venture to guess that at least 81% of us are not. While it is true I do not like chocolate, I do like the look of new finger-proof stainless appliances, clean quartz countertops and frameless shower doors. Most people do. For this reason, I will continue to purchase chocolate and dole it out appropriately. I just won’t be part of the average American population who eats the equivalent of three chocolate bars a week (according to Statistica). Rest assured, however, that I will make up for that with Twizzlers and Jolly Ranchers.

Jen Fischer is an associate broker and Realtor. She can be reached at 801-645-2134 or jen@jen-fischer.com.

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