When it comes to home improvements, not all upgrades are created equal. While some renovations can increase the value of your home, others may have the opposite effect, decreasing its resale value.
Before undertaking any major projects, it’s essential to consider how they might impact your home’s marketability. Here are 15 home improvements that could potentially hurt your resale value.
Removing Bedrooms
Combining smaller bedrooms to create larger ones might seem like a good idea for increasing space, but it can decrease your home’s appeal to potential buyers. Many homebuyers prioritize the number of bedrooms, so removing one could limit your pool of interested buyers.
Adding a Pool
While pools can be a desirable feature for some buyers, they can also be a deterrent for others. Maintenance costs, safety concerns, and limited usability in certain climates can make pools more of a liability than an asset, potentially lowering your home’s resale value.
Over-the-Top Landscaping
Excessive landscaping, such as intricate gardens or elaborate hardscaping features, may appeal to a niche market but could turn off more mainstream buyers. High maintenance requirements and the need for ongoing upkeep can make these features more of a burden than a selling point.
Converting a Garage
Converting a garage into a living space might provide extra square footage, but it can also decrease the value of your home by eliminating valuable storage space for potential buyers. Many homebuyers prioritize having a garage for parking or storage, so removing this feature could hurt resale value.
Installing Wall-to-Wall Carpeting
While carpeting can add warmth and comfort to a home, wall-to-wall carpeting can be a turn-off for some buyers due to concerns about cleanliness and allergens. Hardwood flooring or other hard surfaces are generally more desirable and can increase resale value.
DIY Electrical Work
Attempting DIY electrical work without proper training and permits can lead to safety hazards and code violations that decrease your home’s value. Buyers may be wary of purchasing a home with electrical issues, leading to lower offers or difficulty selling.
Removing Bathtubs
While walk-in showers may be trendy, removing all bathtubs from your home can limit its appeal to families with young children or those who prefer soaking baths. Having at least one bathtub in the home is often considered essential for resale value.
Highly Customized Features
Highly customized features, such as built-in aquariums or themed rooms, may reflect your personal style but can be off-putting to potential buyers who prefer a more neutral palette. These unique features may limit your home’s marketability and appeal to a smaller audience.
Inconsistent Renovations
Inconsistent renovations that don’t flow well with the home’s overall style can make it feel disjointed and less cohesive, lowering its resale value. Maintaining a consistent aesthetic throughout the home is important to appeal to a broader range of buyers.
Neglecting Maintenance
Neglecting basic maintenance tasks, such as repairing leaky roofs or updating outdated plumbing, can signal to buyers that the home has been poorly maintained, decreasing its perceived value. Regular upkeep and maintenance are essential for preserving and enhancing your home’s resale value.
Removing Closets
Eliminating closets or reducing storage space can be a major drawback for potential buyers who prioritize storage and organization. Homebuyers often consider Adequate closet space, so removing closets could hurt your home’s resale value.
Installing High-End Appliances
While high-end appliances may seem like a selling point, they may not necessarily add significant value to your home. Buyers may not be willing to pay extra for luxury appliances, especially if they’re nearing the end of their lifespan or require specialized maintenance.
Over-the-Top Light Fixtures
Intricate or elaborate light fixtures may be eye-catching, but they can also polarize and turn off potential buyers with different tastes. Opting for more timeless and neutral light fixtures can help maintain your home’s resale value and appeal to a broader audience.
Removing Green Features
Removing eco-friendly features like solar panels or energy-efficient windows can decrease your home’s appeal to environmentally conscious buyers and lower its resale value. These features are increasingly valued in today’s market and can contribute to long-term energy savings.
DIY Structural Changes
Attempting DIY structural changes, such as removing load-bearing walls or altering the home’s footprint, can compromise its structural integrity and decrease its value. It’s essential to consult with a professional before making any major structural modifications to ensure they’re done safely and comply with building codes.
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Victoria Cornell helps women adopt a positive mindset even when the struggles of motherhood feel overwhelming. Victoria writes for multiple media outlets where she writes about, saving money, retirement, ways to reduce stress with mindset, manifesting, goal planning, productivity, and more.
