Check out this traditional one-story house for sale in Long Beach, California. The listing says it’s been “well maintained,” which seems to be code for “has remained in a time warp since 1950.” Not that that’s such a bad thing. But the new owner will probably want to update it.

Take a look and then tell us–if you bought it, what are the first 5 changes you’d make?

The house has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. It sits on a large corner lot and has an in-ground pool. Asking price is $660,000.

The listing specifies that there are hardwood floors beneath the wall-to-wall carpet, so I would love to see them exposed.

I love all the big windows.

The master bedroom looks a little sad right now. But it wouldn’t be too hard to cheer it up, would it?

One of the houses I lived in as a girl had the same wallpaper in the kitchen, so this really brings back nightmares memories. I’ll have to dig out an old photo of it to show you sometime. It was like that when we moved there, but it was a long time before we got around to changing it.

I would love to see this kitchen given a retro-cool vibe that fits the style of the house–no cherry cabinets or granite countertops, please. Oh, and I think that rounded peninsula with the shelves needs to stay, although I’m sure some of you will disagree.

If you could make 5 changes to the house, what would they be? How would you make this California ranch cool again? (Thanks to Cindy for sending me the listing!)

To See More Houses That Need Your Help: 5 Changes.

A reader named Karen wrote me a lovely letter about this old house for sale in her Wisconsin neighborhood. They’re asking only $99,000, but it needs a new owner who is willing to love it back to life with some hard work and creativity.

I thought it would be perfect for our 5 Changes Game. If you haven’t played before, it’s simple–take a look at the house and then tell us what 5 changes you think would make the biggest difference.

Karen writes, “We live in the CUTEST neighborhood in Wisconsin, called Appleton. We’re on the Fox River and still have block parties and Sunday night soup parties in winter. Our beloved neighbor Charlie, who was 93 years old, passed away and left a home that has tons of potential.”

“Charlie met his wife Georgianna in Africa during WW2. They were avid readers and travelers (I must have bought 50 books at their auction when they passed). They lived happily in this house until she failed with Alzheimer’s.  Even when ‘Georgie’ had to go to a home, Charlie drove to pick her up every day and bring her home with him during the day.”

It was built in the late 1800′s and was the first home in Appleton to have aluminum siding (1950′s).  Across the street is a museum called Hearthstone House–the first to be powered by hydroelectric power in the U.S.

The master bedroom looks a little more modern with the woodwork painted and lighter floors:

The house has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and 2 fireplaces:

Karen ends her letter by saying, “Please find me a cool neighbor!” If you’re cool and interested in being her neighbor–or just want to see more photos–check out the listing. (To see all the photos, click the “Real Advantage Tour” button on that page.)

Now that you’ve taken a good look at the house, tell us. If you bought it, what are the first 5 changes you’d make?

To See More Houses That Need Your Help: 5 Changes.

Areader named Maureen sent me photos of this 1958 ranch in Illinois and said she thought it had a “fun-retro-Brady vibe.” It’s on the market for $225,000, which seems like a pretty good deal for all this space on such a big, wooded lot, but it needs some work. It hasn’t been updated much over the years, so it’s almost like peering inside a time capsule.

That makes it interesting to look at, but it would be hard to live in as is. That’s why it’s perfect for our 5 Changes Game. If you’ve never played before, it’s simple. Take a look at this house and then tell us: If you could make 5 changes right away, what would they be?

Built-in planters line the entry hall. And check out the sunken living room around the fire:

There’s even a funky opening for the TV:

I’m thinking Austin Powers would be right at home here, Baby.

The dining room:

Check out the groovy dividing wall:

Looks like the kitchen was updated at some point, but badly. It doesn’t really fit with the style of the rest of the house:

The master bath still has the yellow sink and tub:

I think this house could be cool again with the right updates, especially if you really went for a retro-modern look instead of trying to make it something it’s not (traditional brass light fixtures, I’m looking at you!). But what do you think? (Visit the listing for more photos and information.)

What are the first 5 changes you’d make if you bought this house?

Like playing the 5 Changes Game? Check out more houses than need some love, like this Sears Bungalow and a Center-Hall Colonial.

Whenever I come across a nice house like this that simply needs a little love (and updating), I start fantasizing about how I’d make it beautiful again. I thought that this one, described as a “Center-Hall Colonial,” would be perfect for our popular 5-Changes Game.

If you’ve never played before, it’s simple. Take a look at this house and then tell us: If you could make only 5 changes, what would they be?

The house was built in the 1920s.  It was on the market in Ohio for $412,000 but recently sold.

All of the windows in the dining room make it a sunny spot in the house. I’m happy to see the hardwood floors in here, too:

There are 5 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. The house has a 2-car garage and a big backyard.

The kitchen was updated at some point. Unfortunately, it doesn’t really suit the style of the rest of the house:

This bathroom has been updated, too. (I’m actually squinting at this photo, the walls are so bright!)

I’d love to have a covered side porch–and to see this one prettied up. I grew up in a neighborhood of older homes where they were common:

I think this house could look great with a little updating, don’t you? What 5 changes do you think would make the biggest difference?

UPDATE: Some of my readers gave this house some curb appeal. See what it looks like with shutters and new landscaping here.

If you like the 5 Changes Game, check out the house that was Stuck in the ’80s and Jennifer Lopez’s 1970s Colonial.

When I spotted this old red-brick house in the real estate listings, described as “a diamond in the rough,” I knew it would be perfect for one of our “Five Changes” challenges. If you’ve never played before, it’s simple. Take a look around this house and then tell us: What 5 changes would you make?

I limit it to 5, even though it clearly would need more than that, because it’s an exercise in deciding which changes would make the biggest difference. I always enjoy reading your ideas. I have some really talented and creative readers out there!

The house is in a very nice neighborhood of beautiful older homes, which is why they’re able to ask $399,000 for it.  It was built in 1905 and it’s pretty big–it has 7 bedrooms and 4 baths. It needs a lot of love. And paint. And, well, you’ll see.

Here’s the dining room, looking into the “breakfast room:”

The staircase and window are dramatic. Too bad about all that wallpaper someone’s going to have to peel off someday. I wouldn’t want to be the one on the ladder.

One of the four bathrooms:

Two of the seven bedrooms:

You can see the listing for more information about the house here.

There are no photos of the kitchen at all, which is never a good sign. Still, my imagination is churning with the possibilities for this house. What do you think? If you could make 5 changes to this house, what would they be?

If You’re Hooked on 5 Changes:

• Stuck in the ’80s: How Would You Update This House?
• Jennifer Lopez’s 1970s Colonial: How Would You Lopez It Up?
• What 5 Changes Would You Make to This Sears Bungalow?

Check out this bungalow that was bought from a Sears catalog in 1933. It has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and is on the market in Claverack, New York, for $199,000. I thought it had so much potential that I knew it would be perfect for one of our “5 Changes” challenges. If you’ve never played before, it’s simple. Take a look at the photos of this house and then tell us: What 5 changes would you make?

In the right hands, I think this house could really be a charmer. Do you agree? What 5 changes do you think would make the biggest difference?

Thanks goes to Hooked on Houses reader “Just Off the Taconic” for giving me the link to the listing.

If You’re Hooked on 5 Changes:

• Stuck in the ’80s: How Would You Update This House?
• Jennifer Lopez’s 1970s Colonial: How Would You Lopez It Up?
• This Old House Lost Its Charm. How Would You Bring It Back?
• What 5 Changes Would You Make to This Old House?

See this old house? It used to be a charmer, but it’s had a bad run of luck and is in desperate need of rescue. It’s on the market for only $149,900, but it needs some TLC. It looks to me like it has been stripped of much of its character over the years, and that makes me sad. So let’s play one of our favorite games, called “Five Changes.” Take a look at these photos and then tell me: If you bought this house, what are the first five changes you’d make?

This poor house is in desperate need of some personality, but I think it has potential, don’t you? What 5 changes do you think would make the biggest difference? This house is in an area of gorgeous older homes that I showed you photos of here and here.

P.S. Thanks for all of the birthday wishes you sent my way yesterday, both here and on my Facebook page!

If You’re Hooked on Five Changes:

• Jennifer Lopez’s 1970s Colonial: How Would You Lopez It Up?
• Stuck in the ’80s: How Would You Update This House?
• What 5 Changes Would You Make to This Old House?

Can you imagine this woman (above) living in this house (below)? Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony have reportedly purchased the white Colonial next door to their current home on the North Shore of Long Island. They paid $2.05 million for the 5-bedroom, 4 ½-bath home built in 1972, which sits on 2.24 acres.

Today we’re going to play our “Which 5 Things Would You Change” game, but with a twist. Instead of telling me the first 5 things you’d change about the house if you bought it, I want to know what 5 things you think Jennifer Lopez would need to feel at home here.

Take a look through these MLS photos and then tell me–how would you J. Lo this up?

Some websites have speculated that the house may be for Jennifer’s mother Guadalupe, who helps care for twins Max and Emme (via Real LI). Others speculate that it’s simply a way to guard their privacy, and that the house might be coming down altogether to make room for extra tennis courts or something.

But let’s imagine they’re using it. What 5 changes would you make for J. Lo? If you need a reminder of what her decorating style is, check out the post I wrote about the nursery she decorated for her twins Max and Emme last year.

UPDATE: Valerie Kellogg of Newsday’s Real LI blog mentioned this post today and quoted some of the comments that you left here. Check it out–yours may have been one of them!

It’s time to play our favorite game: What 5 Changes Would You Make to this house? It’s on the market for $850,000, and “the seller is motivated.” It’s in an exclusive neighborhood, on nearly an acre of prime wooded property, so it’ll probably be a good deal for someone who is willing to put some work into it. The house itself has 7,000 square feet of living space and a 4-car garage. But it’s a little. . .dated.

Frankly, it’s stuck in 1983, the year it was built. I’m sure they spent a lot of money making it funky and fun 26 years ago, but now it’s time to do some serious redecorating.

The thing is, you can only choose the 5 most important things you think should be fixed, updated, or revamped right away. What would your priorities be? What improvements do you think would make the biggest difference?

Dining Room:

Master bedroom (yes, that appears to be a stage that the bed is on!):

Master bath:

Another bedroom:

Back of house:

Now that you’ve had a chance to look around, what do you think? Can this Ode to ’80s Excess be saved? What 5 changes would you make right away if you bought it?

If You’re Hooked on Fixer Uppers:

• What 5 Changes Would You Make to This Old House?
• When Bad Remodels Happen to Good Houses
• Can This Old House Be Saved?

When I come across an old house like this 100-year old white cottage in Missouri, I can’t help but see its potential. It might not seem like it at first, but look closely–there are some great bones here. A big front porch. A charming entry. Ten-foot ceilings. Original doors and woodwork. It just needs some love and attention! And since it’s on the market for only $125,000 (you read that right!), you could afford to put some money into it after closing.

So here’s your challenge. Take a look at the rooms in this house and then decide. If you bought this house tomorrow, what 5 things would you change first? Get as creative as you want with your answers!

But first, here’s the tour:

I’ve been redecorating this house in my head since I first saw the listing. How about you? If you could only make 5 changes, which ones do you think would make the biggest difference?

Thanks to Hooked on Houses reader Sabrina who sent this listing to me today. I really appreciate it when you guys think of me! All photos via HouseViewOnline.com, the leading realty website for Southeast Missouri. You can see more photos and get more information about this home here.