These Common Home “Improvements” Could Actually Make Your Home Harder to Sell
When homeowners are looking to put a house on the market, they sometimes pump money into makeover projects that either (1) cost more to complete than they add to the overall value of your home or (2) narrow their field of potential buyers because of differing tastes or a lack on interest in the new feature. Some of the improvements below are great ideas for individual homeowners and their families, but don’t necessarily make great last minute investments for a home that might soon be on the market.
10.Swimming Pools and Hot Tubs
Pools and tubs can be a lot of fun. We’re not discouraging families from installing pools for their own personal use, but as a real estate-related investment, they don’t make much sense. Swimming pools and hot tubs can actually turn off many buyers who do not want the hassle of maintaining them. For this reason, a swimming pool in the backyard can actually lower the perceived value of the house.
9. Sunrooms
A sunroom can also be a great addition to a home, but the expense of installation is often more than the value it adds to your home. This can make installing a sunroom a poor investment if you are thinking of putting your house on the market in the near future.
8. Wallpaper and Textures
While a new coat of paint is often a great way to spruce up an old room, some sellers attempt to go the extra mile by applying wallpaper or textured effects. The problem is that some people have very different tastes and these types of improvements tend to be difficult to remove.
7. Expensive Light Fixtures
The right light fixture can really bring life to an area, but the price can also add up quickly and many buyers prefer to choose fixtures that match their own personal tastes. Instead of adding new fixtures, we recommend you repair any existing fixtures that may have broken shades, bulbs, etc., and make sure the bulbs are working so the area will be well lit when the house is shown.
6. Repurposing the Garage
A lot of homeowners opt to park in the driveway and make their garage space into a fitness area, crafting corner, man-cave, or other personalized space. While this might appeal to the right buyer, this can substantially lower the appeal for buyers who would rather park inside. If you are going to attempt this sort of remodel for your own use, we recommend keeping it simple and easy to convert back to a traditional garage.
5.Intricate Landscaping
While curb appeal can be important, fancy shrubs and gardens can be expensive to install and time-consuming to maintain. Water-features and other elaborate decorations often come with their own unique sets of concerns. Focus instead on making sure your lawn is well-kept and that existing gardens and flower beds are neat.
4.High-End Kitchen Remodels
While the right kitchen can be a huge selling point for a house, it’s easy to pump thousands of dollars into a kitchen remodel. If you overspend or spend on the wrong features, you might not see a return on your investment. If you are preparing to sell, we recommend consulting with your real estate agent before finalizing any plans for kitchen renovations.
3.The Master Bath
Many homeowners imagine they are building prospective buyers the bathroom of their dreams–but if you aren’t careful you may end up flushing your time and money down the drain. Again, your real estate agent may be able to advise you on the best way to approach such a project economically and effectively.
2. Combining Bedrooms
When you knock down a wall, making two bedrooms into one large room, you may also be knocking dollars off the value of your home. Many buyers are willing to pay more for a house listed with more bedrooms, and for buyers with large families, more rooms may be a necessity.
1.The Home Office
Converting a bedroom into an office could bring your house’s value down thousands of dollars. If you need a workspace in the meantime, try to avoid drastic changes such as removing closets and walls, building in shelves, or incorporating large office furniture, so the area can easily be converted back when it’s time to sell.