6 Things You Think Add Value To Your Home - But Really Don't

Every homeowner must pay for routine home maintenance, such as replacing worn-out plumbing components or staining the deck, but some choose to make improvements with the intention of increasing the home's value. Certain projects, such as adding a well thought-out family room – or other functional space – can be a wise investment, as they do add to the value of the home. Other projects, however, allow little opportunity to recover the costs when it's time to sell.

Even though the current homeowner may greatly appreciate the improvement, a buyer could be unimpressed and unwilling to factor the upgrade into the purchase price. Homeowners, therefore, need to be careful with how they choose to spend their money if they are expecting the investment to pay off. Here are six things you think add value to your home, but really don't.

1. Swimming Pool

Swimming pools are nice to enjoy at a friend's or neighbor's house, but can be a hassle to have at your own home. Many potential homebuyers view swimming pools as dangerous, expensive to maintain and a lawsuit waiting to happen. Families with young children in particular may turn down an otherwise perfect house because of the pool (and the fear of a child going in the pool unsupervised). In fact, a would-be buyer's offer may be contingent on the home seller dismantling an aboveground pool or filling in an in-ground pool. The one exception could be if having a pool is standard in your neighborhood, as it can be in warm states such as California, Arizona, Florida and Hawaii.

An in-ground pool costs anywhere from $30,000 to more than $100,000, and additional yearly maintenance expenses are part of the package. That's a significant amount of money that might never be recouped if and when the house is sold. Put one in for your own pleasure, perhaps, but know that it could cost you when you sell your home.

2. Overbuilding for the Neighborhood

Homeowners may, in an attempt to increase the value of a home, make improvements that unintentionally make the home fall outside of the norm for the neighborhood. While a large, expensive remodel – such as adding a second story with two bedrooms and a full bath – might make the home more appealing, it will not add significantly to the resale value if the house is in the midst of a neighborhood of small, one-story homes.

In general, homebuyers do not want to pay $250,000 for a house in a neighborhood with average sales prices of $150,000; the house will seem overpriced even if it is more desirable than the surrounding properties. The buyer will instead look to spend the $250,000 in a $250,000 neighborhood. The house might be beautiful, but any money spent on overbuilding might be difficult to recover unless the other homes in the neighborhood follow suit. If your area is in the midst of a gentrifying burst of teardowns and rebuilds, then an extensive remodel might be worth it. But only then.

3. Extensive Landscaping

Homebuyers 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 to the selling price.

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. Either way, many buyers view elaborate landscaping as a burden (even though it might be attractive) and, as a result, are not likely to consider it when placing value on the home.

4. Inconsistent High-End Upgrades

Putting stainless steel appliances in your kitchen or imported 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 to maintain a similar style and quality throughout the home.

A home that has a beautifully remodeled, modern kitchen can be viewed as a work in progress if the bathrooms remain functionally obsolete. The remodel, therefore, might not fetch as high a return as if the rest of the home were brought up to the same level. High-quality upgrades generally increase the value of high-end homes, but not necessarily in mid-range houses where the upgrade may be inconsistent with the rest of the home.

In addition, specific high-end features – such as media rooms with specialized audio, visual or gaming equipment – may be appealing to a few prospective buyers, but many potential homebuyers would not consider paying more for the home simply because of this additional feature. Chances are that the room would be re-tasked to a more generic living space.

5. Wall-to-Wall Carpeting

While real estate listings may still feature "new carpeting throughout" as a selling point, potential homebuyers today may cringe at the idea of having wall-to-wall carpeting. Carpeting is expensive to purchase and install. In addition, there is growing concern over the healthfulness of carpeting due to the chemicals used in processing and its potential for trapping allergens (a serious concern for families with children). Add to that the probability that the carpet style and color you thought was absolutely perfect might not be what someone else had in mind.

Because of these hurdles, it's difficult to recoup the cost of new wall-to-wall carpeting. Removing the carpet and restoring (or even installing) wood floors is usually a more profitable investment.

6. Invisible Improvements

Invisible improvements are those costly projects 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 or HVAC unit (heating, venting and air conditioning) might be necessary, but don't expect it to recover these costs when it comes time to sell.

Many homebuyers expect these systems to be in good working order and will not pay extra just because you recently installed a new heater. It may be better to think of these improvements as part of regular maintenance, not an investment in your home's value.

The Bottom Line

It is difficult to imagine spending thousands of dollars on a home-improvement project that will not be reflected in the home's value when it comes time to sell. There is no simple equation for determining which projects will garner the highest return, or the most bang for your buck. Some of this depends on the local market and even the age and style of the house.

Homeowners frequently must choose between an improvement that they would really love to have (the in-ground swimming pool) and one that would prove to be a better investment. Some research (check out Remodeling magazine's 2016 Cost vs. Value Report), or the advice of a qualified real estate professional, can help homeowners avoid costly projects that don't really add value to a home.

Folger, Jean. “6 Things You Think Add Value To Your Home.” Investopedia, 17 Feb. 2017, www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0910/6-things-you-think-add-value-to-your-home---but-really-dont.aspx.