Your home is your greatest asset and remodeling it from time to time should add to its value. Unfortunately, ill-conceived remodeling projects may actually devalue your home and could end up costing you twice. Whether you are a homeowner or a construction professional providing advice, be sure to avoid the following remodeling missteps.
Out with the Old
Before tearing down the stone fireplace or brick wall for a more modern alternative, ask your designer or realtor if the feature adds value to your home. Modern updates that remove historically significant or architecturally sound features may actually be a step in the wrong direction.
Love your Closets
While a bigger bedroom or bathroom can seem like a good idea, getting rid of your closets is not the best idea. A walk-in closet can really add value to your home, while a lack of storage space may put some buyers off. Even though installing closets is easy enough, prospective buyers want ready-made solutions to storage.
Keep your Garage
A garage is a crucial selling point for most buyers, especially in suburban areas. Garages aren’t just for cars, they also provide valuable storage space for garden and sports equipment as well as tools and furniture. While your man cave, studio or recreational room may sound like a good idea, its best to keep your garage if you intent to sell your home.
Bedrooms are Better
If you have more bedrooms that you need, you may be tempted to break down a few walls and make a huge master bedroom, create more space for your living room or create a luxurious bathroom, but the number of bedrooms you have will significantly increase or decrease the value of your home.
On paper, the number of bedrooms your home has will determine whether a buyer even takes it into consideration at all. While you can revamp bedrooms for other uses, try to keep the bedrooms in your home intact.
Wallpaper
Wallpaper is back in fashion and it’s a great way to add a little flavor to any room. Unfortunately, not everyone thinks so. If your prospective buyers love wallpaper and also love the wallpaper you choose, then you’re adding value to your home.
However, if your buyers don’t like the wallpaper, you may actually be devaluing your home. You see, wallpaper has a bad reputation as being notoriously difficult to remove. Buyers will see your wallpaper project as something they will have to fix when they take over the house. Consider a paintjob instead—buyers are far more receptive to painting than they are to removing wallpaper.