1. The Basics
The basics are those things that buyers expect when they purchase a home. This includes a roof that doesn’t leak, functioning gutters and downspouts, a dry basement, a reliable furnace, solid floors, walls that are in good repair, and retaining walls that work. Most potential buyers also expect your home to have functioning plumbing and HVAC systems. In upscale properties the basics might also include a certain number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and multiple-car garages, and any other amenities that are common to the neighborhood.
This doesn’t mean you have to upgrade all of it. You can focus on regular maintenance and smaller, cheaper improvements that keep everything in good working order. Adding these items to a home that lacks them doesn’t add value; it merely brings the property up to the standard level of the rest of the homes in the neighborhood, ensuring that you can ask a comparable price.
On the other hand, while you want your house to stand out from the competition, you shouldn’t make unwarranted upgrades that greatly exceed other properties in the area. Not only will you end up losing money; you may also scare off potential buyers. In short, before you invest tons of money in an elaborate full-house renovation project, consider what the competing properties in your neighborhood have to offer. Find out how similarly priced homes in your neighborhood measure up and make improvements based on your specific marketplace.
2. Curb Appeal
Items that add curb appeal help the property to look good when prospective buyers arrive. While these projects may not add a considerable amount of monetary value, they will help your home sell faster. Curb appeal items include a well-manicured lawn, low-cost landscaping, fresh paint inside and out (at least the front door), cleaned carpets, and new fixtures (even redoing the address numbers). You can do these projects yourself to save money and time.
Err on the side of plain vanilla, though. Now is not the time to incorporate bold design choices into the décor. Subtle accent walls and tasteful backsplashes are simple design features that will add to your home’s appeal.
Lighting is another element that can break the bank. While you want the house to look bright and inviting, you don’t want to overdo it or overrun your home circuitry. Instead, consider installing recessed or LED lights for a modern-looking upgrade. If you need help with these projects, you can consult an interior decorating professional. Just make sure you lean toward inexpensive choices.
Avoid bold design choices in your décor. Subtle accent walls and tasteful backsplashes will more effectively add to your home’s appeal.
3. Value-Added
The projects that add considerable value are big favorites of fix-it-and-flip-it advocates—and they should be high on a homeowner’s list too. While most of these efforts will not recoup their costs, some will come close. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) cites new siding, kitchen renovations (new countertops and state-of-the-art appliances), and new windows as projects with some of the highest return on investment, often recouping 80% or more of their costs during resale. Upgraded bathrooms, refurbished decks, and energy-saving improvements also offer a lot of bang for the buck.1
4. Personal Preference
Personal preference projects are nifty items that you want but that other people may not like or be willing to pay to get. In most areas of the country, these include amenities such as swimming pools, tennis courts, hot tubs, wine cellars, basement game rooms, and ponds. Believe it or not, a swimming pool rarely adds value to a home. First of all, it usually costs a small fortune to have an in-ground pool installed. Secondly, many home buyers view a pool as a high-maintenance hassle and safety hazard—especially as it’s something that’s useable only a few months out of the year (unless you live in a tropical climate, of course).
There’s certainly no harm in adding these items to your house, but don’t expect potential buyers to be willing to pay a premium to get them when you are ready to sell. And be wary if the renovation means replacing a popular or commonplace feature. If every other home in your neighborhood boasts a two-car garage, you should probably think twice about converting yours into a game room. Do you really want to be the only house in the area with no protected place to park?
Other tricky conversions include:
- Transforming a bedroom into a studio
- Removing walls to enlarge a space (unless it’s a really practical move, such as creating a flow between the dining room and kitchen)
- Eliminating a bedroom to extend a room
- Remodeling the basement (stick to smaller improvements, such as upgraded storage capacity)
The Bottom Line
Regardless of the project you are considering, remember that your primary residence is not just a house; it’s your home. If you plan to live there for many years to come, add amenities that you want to have regardless of their impact on resale. When it’s time to sell, do the basics to get the property up to par for the neighborhood and add some curb appeal but don’t bother undertaking an extensive array of projects strictly in an effort to increase the purchase price of the property.
Elaborate custom upgrades may appeal more to you than to potential buyers. It’s best to keep renovations small, neutral in looks, and centered on improving the functionality of your home. And remember, even with the real estate renovations that are known to add value, the chances are good that you will spend more money than you will get back in return.
