Homeowners who want to remodel their dream home must choose their projects wisely. Otherwise, they may find that their amazing renovations have made their home harder to sell when it comes time to move.
1-An inground pool
Homebuyers either love pools or hate them, which means that if you have an inground pool, you should count on a good number of potential buyers in your price range immediately crossing your home off their list. That said, if you desperately want to have a pool and are going to be able to enjoy it for many years to come, go for it. But keep in mind that a pool will likely reduce the chances of selling your home.
2- Contrasting architectural styles
If you live in a Colonial style home, putting on a stucco addition that is more suited to the desert Southwest will make your home look awkward and disjointed. While you don’t have to stick strictly to the original style of your home, any additions you make should at least complement the style rather than detract from it.
3-Substandard Materials
Buying a home is an expensive prospect, so if you skimp on the quality of building materials for your renovation-and it’s obvious-buyers will notice. Using substandard materials in a renovation project is a mistake that can come back to haunt you when it comes time to sell. If your budget is an issue, don’t do a big project on the cheap. Instead, reduce the scope of the renovation, but use high-quality materials.
4-Fashionable fashions
You may love retro decor, but a living room with bright orange carpeting isn’t going to appeal to a wide variety of buyers. For any project that involves updating the floor or wall color, stick to neutral tones. You can always add touches of your favorite colors in throw pillows, lamps, rugs and other accessories.
5-Deficient workmanship
Unless you have a background in construction, it’s best to leave remodeling to professionals, and even then, do your research before hiring a contractor. Shoddy workmanship, such as moldings that are not aligned, walls with visible plaster joints, and warped wallpaper, will make your home less desirable. Hire only a reputable contractor, even if you have to pay a little more.
6- Infractions to the regulations
Major alterations made without prior authorization will be turned against you if you wish to sell your house. If you sign a contract, buyers will request inspections. If the inspector finds that your extension has not been wired according to regulations or that the new garage is too close to the property line, you will have a problem on your hands. Regulatory violations can ruin a sale. Don’t take chances: get a permit for every renovation that requires one.
7-Garage Renovations
Homeowners looking for more living space often use their garages to turn them into living rooms, studios or extra bedrooms. But many potential buyers would probably prefer to park their car in the garage rather than have an extra room in the garage. If you need extra living space, hire an architect or contractor to build an extension on the back or side of your home, and leave the garage alone.
8-Poor energy efficiency
For energy-efficient windows, you’ll have to spend more money on an extension or other remodeling project, but it will pay off in the long run as potential buyers pay attention to energy savings. With energy costs skyrocketing, you should make energy efficiency a top priority when choosing windows and doors for your project. If you are already renovating an older home, you should also upgrade the insulation at the same time.
9-Skimpy storage
As part of a remodeling project, provide storage space for all the things homeowners accumulate these days. Potential homebuyers are looking for large closets, built-in pantries and plenty of storage space in storage rooms, laundry rooms and garages. If you don’t include storage space when remodeling, you’re missing out on an opportunity and your home’s curb appeal will suffer.
10 – Poor accessibility of rooms
Renovating the attic to create additional living space can increase the value of your home, but not if you have to climb stairs with limited ceiling height to get there. The same goes for a bedroom that can only be accessed through another room, which is often the case when a large bedroom is divided into two smaller rooms. Each bedroom should have its own access, easily accessible from a common area, such as a hallway, living room or great room.
