Common Home Renovations That May Not Be Worth the Investment
If you’re considering renovating your home, it’s essential to approach the process with careful planning and a clear understanding of what upgrades will truly add value. While some renovations can enhance both your living experience and the resale potential of your property, others may not be worth the time, effort, or money. Here are several common home renovation choices that experts suggest reconsidering.
1. Excessive Kitchen Remodeling
While it might be tempting to completely overhaul your kitchen, excessive remodeling can sometimes backfire. According to Jenna Stauffer, a Key West, Florida-based real estate associate with Sotheby’s International Realty, it’s generally better to make extensive kitchen upgrades if it’s in your personal interest rather than with the intention of increasing your home’s value. “If you want to go all in, do it because you’re going to enjoy it, not because you think you’re going to double your money,” she says.
Potential buyers may not share your taste in kitchen design, and they might not see much value in spending more to reverse your upgrades. Natalia Harris, a luxury real estate advisor with Las Vegas Sotheby’s International Realty, suggests keeping your kitchen’s framework classic and neutral while showcasing your personality through more colorful and decorative accents and furniture pieces.
“Keep the core renovation timeless with neutral cabinetry and classic stone surfaces, then layer in personality through paint, bar stools, lighting, hardware and accessories that can be updated easily as styles evolve,” she says.
2. Permanently Converting the Garage
Rich Stone, a real estate professional at Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty, Nicole Carstensen, a realtor at Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International Realty, and Stauffer all agree that permanently converting your garage is usually not worth it. “You’re eliminating functional parking and storage, two things buyers [in Houston] really care about,” says Stone.
If you want to transform your garage, it is best to do so temporarily, and in a way that can easily be reversed to its original state. “People who want garages may not want to tear apart something converted,” explains Carstensen.
3. Converting Bedrooms
Bedrooms are a pivotal part of a home, both for those already living there and those looking to buy. With this in mind, you’ll want to avoid turning bedrooms (at least permanently) into a space, such as a wine cellar or gym, that couldn’t be easily transformed back into a bedroom.
“[This] directly impacts appraised value and shrinks your buyer pool, especially in markets where bedroom count is a primary search filter,” explains Sharon Parker, a realtor at Tate & Foss Sotheby’s International Realty. Your buyers may grow concerned when they see a missing bedroom.
4. Adding Wellness Amenities
Even though many people are buying and adding cold plunges, saunas and red-light therapy rooms to their homes, that doesn’t mean you should. “These are very lifestyle-specific and can take the place of features most buyers actually expect (like a bathtub, bedroom or usable yard space),” says Stone. “What feels like a daily essential to you can feel like something the next buyer has to undo.”
This shouldn’t stop you from leading a healthy lifestyle or engaging with wellness trends, but he notes that you should do so in a way that keeps your home functional.
5. Installing a Swimming Pool
Unless you live in an area that’s warm more often than not, Brad Colburn, a realtor at Next Chapter Partners at Madison & Company Properties, LLC, notes that a pool is typically not a worthwhile renovation. “The continual upkeep and potential for issues turns buyers’ heads the other direction,” he explains. “The cost to fill in a pool is also a detriment, not to mention trying to find a contractor that does a good job with this.”
Additionally, routinely heating a pool (in a cooler area) and maintaining it can require a great deal of effort and be costly.
6. Adding Fireplaces to Bedrooms
While a fireplace in your bedroom (or all the bedrooms in your home) might seem like a nice (and warm) idea, Stone explains that they aren’t generally worth it. “They’re rarely used, take up valuable wall space and appeal to a very small group of buyers,” he says. “There’s also a significant risk to having a gas appliance in sleeping quarters.” If a fireplace in your home is a non-negotiable for you, he recommends adding one to your living room instead.
7. Incorporating Pet Systems
Patty Anker, a realtor at Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty, notes that although you may feel inclined to add intricate pet washing stations, climbing walls or any other pet-friendly system or amenity to your home, you may want to reconsider or pause the renovation altogether, as these amenities may not cater to all buyers (especially those who don’t have pets).
So, what should you invest in instead? Keep it simple: high-quality, timeless kitchen and bathroom fixtures, neutrally decorated bedrooms and a well-maintained yard will go a long way to keeping your home liveable and attractive to both you and potential future buyers.
