Home Renovations That Pay Off 💲

April 9, 2025

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What Up, Family? 

Welcome to The Edit with Aaron Seawood, a lifestyle letter serving a weekly dose of real estate, culture, and wisdom—all in three minutes or less. Let’s dive in. 

 

Real Estate Remix 

New research from Zillow has identified three home renovations that increase selling price. These three features can help your home sell for an average of $12,500 more! They are soapstone countertops (3.5% sale premium), white oak floors (3.2%), and Venetian plaster walls (3%). That said, trends change often; undertake these projects only if you’re ready to sell this year. Sellers usually ask me whether they should renovate before they sell, and my answer over the years has stayed the same: essential repairs are always a good idea, but save the grand cosmetic renovation dreams for your next home so you can enjoy the fruits of your labor. 

 

NYC Insider: What’s Happening This Week 

While this week’s weather hasn’t exactly screamed Spring (sidenote: I’m so ready for warmer temps), the season of outdoor dining and food markets is here. Smorgasburg is officially back for their 15th season—they opened last weekend—and I’m looking forward to taking Sasha and Ryder there soon, before the crowds get heavy. We usually go to the OG location in Williamsburg on Saturday, but the Prospect Park location on Sundays is excellent, too. This year, 20 new vendors have been added, and as usual, the food is looking 🔥. 

 

Weekly Gem 💎

Where There’s Smoke, Is Your Fire. 

That’s not a typo. Today I want you to look beneath the noise—the career path you think you should follow, the relationship that checks the right boxes—and find the thing that quietly excites you. The thing you’ve always enjoyed, but never seriously considered. Because pursuing what genuinely lights you up, without the pressure of what life is “supposed” to look like, is the closest we get to our calling. 

Today’s gem is about being still enough to receive that nudge from the universe. To clear space so you’re not too busy to recognize the things that light you up. Where there’s smoke, is your fire. Follow your interests, and make moves. You don’t need the full plan—the how or the “when”. Just take that passion as far as you can and when it runs its course, find the next thing that moves your spirit. Ultimately, you’ll end up with what truly sets you on fire. So if you’re reaching for something deeper, look no further than the smoke. 

 

The Best Homes on the Market This Week  

Here are three of my favorite fly listings in NYC across all price points.  Because Team Carte Blanche is all about the people, not the price. 

 

 

	54 East 80th St.   $14,950,000   6 Bed / 8 Bath   UES  Just past the 1899 limestone facade lies 5,591 SF of refined living space. Situated between Madison and Park Avenues, this townhouse features soaring ceilings, expansive windows, and a sun-kissed south-facing garden. What a gem of a home!   Listed by Heather Domi
	449 Bergen St.  $3,500,000    4 Bed / 4 Bath    Park Slope Located on a vibrant, tree-lined block in prime Park Slope, this 25-foot-wide townhouse features a generous owner’s triplex with a separate 1-bedroom rental, making it the perfect home for those seeking space and income potential. It’s certainly a rare find!  Listed by Tamara Abir (What Up Family?!)
	363 Dean St, Unit 6 $1,400,000   2 Bed / 1 Bath    Boerum Hill Built in 2016 and located within a boutique 6-unit condominium, this floor-through residence has all the modern amenities you need. Highlights include a private outdoor terrace, in-unit washer/dryer, and open chef’s kitchen.  Listed by Samantha Shuman

 

Who wants a tour?

Before you go…

🌀: SAY WHAT? A “2D restaurant” has just opened in the East Village. This place looks crazy! 

🌊: This French private island and chateau are on sale…just wow.  

☁️: One of the tallest homes in the world—the Burj Khalifa penthouse—is on the market for $51M. It’s almost as high as the tip of the Empire!  

🌈: I loved these 25 “rules” from a happiness expert to help you live a happier life. Number 7 is particularly insightful! 

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Looking to Buy, Sell, or Rent? Let’s talk.

Like I ask GOD every day, who can we help next?