House hunting? Atomic Ranch’s book Remodeled Marvels offers some expert house hunting tips for MCM homes specifically. Let’s take a peek.
House Hunting Experts
Kris Christensen is a Mid Century Modern fan and a Digital Content Specialist behind the scenes here at Atomic Ranch. She also recently underwent the house hunting process herself and consulted a couple friends of Atomic Ranch for a special house hunting section in Remodeled Marvels.
Meet Robert Maurer
Eventually, Robert Maurer became the homeowner of a cover-worthy Streng Bros home. And we mean that literally–his home appeared on the cover of Atomic Ranch’s Fall 2019 issue. (And you can see more of the patio and backyard in this post.) But it took a three-year search to find and get keys for his MCM gem. Here’s a little about his approach to the search:
“Robert [Maurer] started his search without the support of a reliable real estate agent and needed to take matters into his own hands. Turning to satellite imagery, he looked for the tell-tale white foam rooftops … and discovered several MCM neighborhoods.”
Robert was fine with a house that needed some TLC, but he wasn’t afraid to pull out in escrow when inspections revealed more extensive problems than he was willing to take on. His main piece of advice is simply, “Save and be patient.”
Meet TJ Pierce
TJ Pierce is a real estate specialist in Boise, Idaho. His firm, Mid-Century Homes by Anthology, is entirely focused on MCM properties. One of his properties appeared on the Atomic Ranch Summer 2018 cover. (See an interview with TJ here.) TJ’s advice is to work with a specialist. A word of realism from TJ is that if you’re serious about looking for an MCM home, “Get comfortable with the fact that you’re looking for a 70-year-old home.” Looking for a specialist who knows the ins and outs of MCM homes will help you navigate the realities attendant to 70-year-old homes. In TJ’s words, that specialist knows “what’s scary, what isn’t” and what possible solutions for those scary problems might be.
MCM House Hunting Tips
When you set out on this search, there are so many factors to consider. How will you know when your house hunting is over? Kris’ take on this question is, “First, it’s the house you can afford. Second, you think either it’s already gorgeous or it’s going to be, once you add your personal flair. Third, it’s where you and your loved ones can feel at ease.”
For more expert MCM house hunting tips, as well as guidance on the subsequent adventure of restoring or renovating, be sure to pick up a copy of Atomic Ranch’s Remodeled Marvels, available on our site or on Amazon.
