Home Improvements That Harm Your Home's Value

Posted by Justin Havre on Thursday, September 19th, 2019 at 10:16am.

Home Improvements to Avoid If You're Going to Sell SoonMany homeowners assume that all home improvements increase their home's value. However, this is not always the case. Some home improvements take away features that home buyers want, and replace them with features that home buyers don't need. This can negatively impact the price of the home when it's time to sell. Being able to identify these improvements can help homeowners avoid remodels, especially unpermitted DIY projects, that can take away from their home's value.

Removal of a Bedroom

Bedrooms add value to homes. When bedrooms are taken away, this often reduces the amount of money that home buyers are willing to pay for the property. Bedrooms can be removed for a variety of reasons. A homeowner might turn a bedroom into a home theater, a sound room, or a home office. Any conversion that makes it difficult or impossible to use the space as a bedroom is unlikely to have a positive effect on the home's value.

Built-In Speakers and Other Electronics

Electronics become dated quickly. Installing built-in speakers and other types of electronics can make a home seem out of date when it goes up for sale, unless that type of technology is still in use when buyers come to see it. Removing built-in technology can be expensive, so many home buyers are uninterested in purchasing homes with these features.

Garage Conversion

Most homeowners want a garage, so a conversion that turns a garage into another kind of room may not be very attractive to a homeowner. In addition, many garage conversions are not done to building codes, which means the home may become automatically difficult to sell.

Most homeowners who want to use their garage space for something else may be better off looking for alternative solutions. For example, a homeowner who wants to turn their garage into a family room might be better off building a family room as an addition to their house.

Unusual Wall Treatments

Wallpaper has not been in style for some time, and wall texture makes a wall difficult to clean and difficult to paint. Installing unusual wall treatments can make a home less attractive to a buyer because most buyers plan to remove them when they become the owners.

Work With a Real Estate Professional

Most Riversong real estate professionals are able to help homeowners decide which home improvements would make a home more attractive. If you're thinking about selling your home soon, work with a real estate professional to decide which renovations are best.

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