While making your home improvements, the central motive is often to add more value to your home. But there are several projects which, instead of serving your purpose, work in an opposite direction. Let us go into details to grab more ideas.
1. Extensive Landscaping
Home buyers may appreciate well-maintained or mature landscaping, but don’t expect the home’s value to increase because of it. A beautiful yard may encourage potential buyers to take a closer look at the property but will probably not add significantly to the selling price. For example, if a buyer is unable or unwilling to put in the effort to maintain a garden, it will quickly become an eyesore, or the new homeowner might need to pay a qualified gardener to take charge.
2. Hidden Improvements
Invisible improvements are those expensive pieces of equipment that you know make your house a better place to live in, but that nobody else would notice – or likely care about. A new plumbing system might be necessary, but don’t expect to recover its cost when it comes time to sell.
Many home buyers expect these systems to be in good working order and will not pay extra just because you recently installed a new gadget. It may be better to think of these improvements as part of regular maintenance, not an investment in your home’s value.
3. Irreversible Carpeting
While real estate listings may still feature “carpeting” as a selling point, potential home buyers today may cringe at the idea of having “wall-to-wall” carpeting. With the evolution of decor styles and visions, flooring ideas have changed and preferences may vary from person to person to a great extent. Carpeting is expensive to purchase and install. In addition, there is growing concern over the health effects of carpeting due to the chemicals used in processing and they are potential as an allergen. Add to that the probability that the carpet style and color you thought was absolutely perfect might not match with the buyer’s taste.
4. Inconsistent Upgrades
Putting imported decor in your kitchen or expensive tiles in your entryway may do little to increase the value of your home if the bathrooms are still vinyl-floored and the shag carpeting in the bedrooms dates back to the ’60s. Upgrades should be consistent and maintain a similar style and quality throughout the home. Consistency is necessary to grab the overall interest and attention of the buyer. Also, uniform upgrades play a key role.
5. Pools
Pools are nice to enjoy especially during summers, but many people many not prefer them as they add extra maintenance costs. One may like to enjoy a pool in his friend’s or neighbor’s place, but not in his own home. Also, buyers with small kids may look at it as dangerous. An overall perfect home may lose some of its value just because of the presence of a pool.
Bottom line: think from the buyer’s perspective before you upgrade your home.
