That may sound rude but there is such a thing as “functional (or structural) obsolescence. That means that a home is dated in a way, compared to other homes, that cannot easily be changed.

Changing from carpet to tile floors, or repainting, can be easy changes to make and still compare favorably to other homes on the market. Updating kitchens or bathrooms can be much more expensive, but still doable. But changing the outside of the home or the roof line, is generally prohibitive in cost.

If yours is the only frame home and the other homes around you are brick, then that isn’t fixable. The only way to even the playing field is to lower the price of the frame home.

The “pitch” or angle on a roof is dictated as much by custom and style as building code. Older homes may have a different pitch than newer homes and again, the only way to compensate for a home that looks like it’s dated is by adjusting price.

The location of a home may become “obsolete” making the home less desirable if it fronts a road that is more heavily trafficked or under construction or now backs up to commercial property. Again, while it’s a difficult pill to swallow, the only answer is a price adjustment.

Then, at some point, a buyer will say, “who cares if the home has ______, it’s a great price.”