Beyond the Pretty: Where Design Meets Value

We’re kicking off a new series, Beyond the Pretty, where we sit down with trusted professionals
across every corner of the home industry — real estate, construction, design, and beyond — to
get inside the decisions that truly shape how a home lives.

This isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about understanding the layers beneath it, from resale value
and real estate strategy to the everyday lifestyle choices we bring into our homes to make them
function seamlessly and feel personal to the people living in them.

For our first conversation, I sat down with local real estate expert Lilia DeWald, a consistent top
producer in the Northern Virginia market with years of hands-on experience guiding clients
through buying, selling, and everything in between.

In this conversation, we’re focusing on a question many homeowners wrestle with: whether
investing in renovation, knowing a sale may be on the horizon, actually makes sense. This is a
question our clients grapple with regularly, and one we’re often brought in to help navigate with
clarity and a well-defined plan.

Renovate or Sell As-Is?

It’s one of the most common questions homeowners ask — and one of the most misunderstood.

When I asked Lilia what really drives that decision, she didn’t hesitate.

“The big umbrella is the overall condition of the home,” she explained. “If you’re the grossest
house on the street, you’re going to get the grossest price on the street.”

Lilia’s not subtle. Also not wrong.

Because this decision isn’t just about whether a home looks dated. It’s about how it performs
against competing inventory, and whether a few smart improvements could completely shift that
position.

When Renovation Actually Makes Sense

There’s a common assumption that if you’re planning to sell, it’s not worth putting money into
your home.

But that’s not always how it plays out.

“If you’re going to be in the property for two to four years, it can absolutely make sense,” Lilia
shared.

That window is often enough time to improve your day-to-day experience, build equity through
the market, and still come out ahead when you sell.

And if we’re being honest, the number of people who say “we’ll move in a few years” and
then… don’t… is high. Life has a way of taking over and what originally was going to be a
couple years quickly turns into seven. Sound familiar?

Renovate With Purpose, Not Just for Appearances

One thing we kept coming back to in our conversation is that not all renovations are created
equal.

It’s easy to default to the obvious — kitchens, bathrooms, surface-level updates.

But some of the most valuable changes aren’t just aesthetic. They’re functional.

They change how you actually live in your home.

Think about the areas that create daily friction:

a laundry room on the wrong floor
lack of storage where you need it most
spaces that serve one homeowner beautifully, but can be easily adapted for the next

A great example of this is converting a small bedroom into a larger, more functional primary
closet or even a home gym. It elevates daily living in a meaningful way, while still allowing that
space to transition back to a bedroom down the line if needed.

Often, the things that make a home feel challenging to live in are the very same things that make
it harder to sell.

If something doesn’t work well for you, there’s a good chance the next buyer will feel it too.

And while these types of changes can require a greater investment, they’re often the ones that
carry the most impact.

Because protecting your investment isn’t just about maintaining what’s there.

It’s about knowing where thoughtful improvements can enhance it.

The right updates do both.

They improve how your home functions while you’re living in it, and make it more compelling
to the next buyer when it’s time to sell.

Not just because they look good.

Because they make sense. And that’s what adds value.

Buyers Don’t Want a Project (Even If They Think They Do)

We also talked about the idea of the fixer upper.

You know, the version where buyers assume they’ll casually renovate an entire home between
work, kids, and everything else life throws at them.

In reality, that’s not what’s happening.

“People are cash poor right now,” Lilia pointed out. Larger down payments and limited liquidity
mean most buyers don’t have the resources or the appetite to take on major renovations in newly
acquired homes.

“People don’t want a project. They want it done.”

Homes that are thoughtfully renovated don’t just sell faster. They attract more competition,
which ultimately drives stronger offers.

Not because they’re trend-driven, but because they remove friction.

Done vs. Done Right

One of the more entertaining, and painful parts of our conversation was the amount of layered-
over-time home improvements made by homeowners over the years without any real big picture plan or strategy behind the decisions. A great example is flooring.

Specifically, what we both referred to as hodgepodge flooring.

You’ve all seen it:

hardwood in one room
a different plank and finish in another
something entirely unrelated in the next

All existing together in a visually painful way… until someone tries to sell the house.

When I asked if buyers notice the difference between a thoughtful renovation and a quick fix, the
answer was immediate.

“Absolutely. There’s a clear difference.”

Even if they can’t articulate it, they feel it.

Because inconsistency creates friction, and friction creates hesitation.

Designing for Resale Without Losing Yourself

When I asked what homeowners tend to get wrong, the answer wasn’t about budget.

It was about where and how decisions are made.

“Super taste-specific, permanent choices,” Lilia said.

The kind of decisions that are bold in statement but difficult, or expensive, to undo.

There’s a difference between a statement sofa you can take with you and a bold kitchen
backsplash that stays behind.

One travels.

One becomes someone else’s problem.

The Question That Shapes Every Project

This part of the conversation closely mirrors how we approach every project.

Before we begin, we always ask:

Are you planning to stay long-term, or is selling part of the equation? And if selling is on the
horizon, is this a short game or a long one?

That answer helps inform everything that follows.

Not in a way that limits creativity, but in a way that guides decisions, including how we approach
the overall investment in the home.

It allows us to design with intention, balancing:

how the home needs to function today
how long you plan to live in it
and where it makes sense to invest more, or pull back

Because a home designed for the long game will look very different than one designed for a
shorter horizon.

And getting that clarity early prevents a lot of second-guessing later.

Beyond Value — How a Home Feels to Live In

As much as this conversation is centered around resale and strategy, it’s naturally led somewhere
just as important. How a home feels to live in.

“Live to your highest standard within your four walls,” Lilia said.

Because your home isn’t just an investment.

It’s your daily environment.

And while return on investment matters, it’s not the only measure of value.

You experience your home every single day.

And when it functions well, when it supports your routines, your family, your lifestyle, that value
shows up long before a sale ever happens.

So yes, think about resale.

But also make sure you enjoy your kitchen before you sell it.