Don’t Waste Your Money on These Home Improvements

Not all home improvements are created equal. While some increase the overall value of your home, others can actually decrease its value. If you believe you're in your forever home, do whatever you like—paint all the rooms purple and replace ceiling fans with disco balls. But if you think you might sell your house someday, it’s good to know which home improvements could reduce buyer enthusiasm.

Don’t Be Too Boring

For a long time, REALTORS recommended neutral colors for interior décor. In large part, this remains good advice, but be careful not to erase all signs of personality. A house that’s completely neutral is easy to forget. You don’t want your house to feel so bland that the best thing someone can say is that your house was inoffensive. According to research by Zillow, buyers are looking for a home that reflects a lifestyle, not just a floor plan.

Be Suspicious of Trends

Trends are great until they go out of fashion, which they often do with astonishing speed. When I was growing up, many people had carpet rakes for their orange shag carpets. Until recently, white kitchens were all the rage. Now, buyer taste has moved toward richer, nature-inspired tones like deep greens and blues. So, if you plan to remodel your kitchen (which does add value), consider avoiding extreme trends and go with time-honored décor choices.

Avoid Marble

While marble floors and counter tops have long been a symbol of luxury, they are a pain to take care of. Marble is porous, prone to staining, and easy to scratch. Also, if you drop something breakable, you won’t just lose your glass bowl, the marble can chip or crack. Any buyer who knows this may want to avoid the extra work required to maintain marble.

When I was a kid, my mom put a red candle on the marble mantle. Ever after, we had a red circle where the candle used to be. Instead of marble, consider a natural stone countertop and a tile, wood, or vinyl laminate floor.

Just Say No to Room Conversions

Converting a small bedroom into a walk-in closet or a garage into a bedroom should not be done with the goal of adding value to a home. Most people searching for a home consider bedroom count first. While the closet may be great, losing the bedroom will likely reduce the value of your house. And although giving up your garage for another bedroom increases your bedroom count, buyers expect (and want) a garage, so any increase in value from the addition of a bedroom is offset—it’s a wash with regard to value, but you’re out the conversion cost.

If you convert a bedroom into a home office and you want to maintain your home’s value, do the conversion in a way that allows the office to be turned back into a bedroom. You can stage the room as an office but make it clear it also works as a bedroom. That way people can choose.

Skip the Swimming Pool

            While swimming pools are great during hot Ukiah summers, they have to be maintained year-round. Research indicates that pools can actually dissuade buyers from choosing a house unless you live in a neighborhood where everyone has a pool except you. If you’re determined to install a pool, consider a saltwater pool. People prefer salt water to chlorine.

Don’t Experiment with DIY

            Do-it-yourself projects seem so easy in online videos, but the reality can be very different. Unless you’re confident you have the skills to take on home improvement projects with great results, hire someone to do the work. A DIY project done poorly definitely reduces the value of a home. Buyers may like the concept, but if they think they’ll have to rip something out and do it over again, they’ll subtract the cost of all that work from your asking price.

Avoid Laminate Countertops

Laminate used to be the standard, but people now expect quartz or granite; laminate is considered dated. Stone is hardy and much easier to care for than marble. Be aware that granite does require periodic resealing.

Maintenance Wins

Many buyers are looking for turn-key homes. They want to close escrow and be able to move in the next day. So, especially if you plan to sell your house in the next few years, weigh the expense of any home improvements against the value they add. Not all of them will increase the value, and some will actually reduce the value. Sometimes it's wiser to put your time and money into keeping your house in great condition and letting the new owners do the home improvements they want to do.

If you have questions about property management or real estate, please contact me at [email protected] or call (707) 462-4000. If you have an idea for a future column, share it with me and if I use it, I’ll send you a $25 gift certificate to Schat’s Bakery.

Dick Selzer is a real estate broker who has been in the business for more than 50 years. The opinions expressed here are his and do not necessarily represent his affiliated organizations.