7 Home Upgrades to Avoid (and Why)

Are you considering an upgrade to your home? Everywhere you look from social media posts to home improvement shows, Pinterest-worthy upgrades are more popular than ever. However, not every upgrade idea is worth all the hype–or the investment. Some upgrades can drain your wallet and even decrease your home’s value. Here’s a closer look at seven upgrades to maybe think twice about.

Exotic Landscaping (or Maintenance Nightmare)

While landscaping and breathtaking gardens can be bonus assets, steer clear of turning your yard into a botanical masterpiece. Going exotic with rare, exotic plants and water features might look appealing, but they can also come with hefty price tags and never-ending maintenance. 

Unless you were born with two green thumbs and you’re ready to commit time into its upkeep, think about more practical, low-maintenance options that increase your home’s curb appeal without becoming a chore to contend with.

High-Tech Electronics: Awesome Today, Outdated Tomorrow

We’ve probably all imagined “Jetsons”-esque futures where household appliances can hold conversations with us, offering sleek designs and NASA control center caliber microchips, but what’s cutting-edge home tech now can go the way of the VHS tape since technology constantly evolves, and today’s big breakthrough can quickly become an obsolete relic.

Instead, try opting for energy-efficient appliances that can prove more useful over the latest tech fads.

Overly Ornate or Hyper-Specific Upgrades

Home is where you hang your hat, and you want to make it feel like yours, a reflection of your taste and style, but going overboard with some specific upgrades–like a SpongeBob-themed bathroom or Middle Earth-inspired living room–can backfire. If you plan to sell your home eventually, the goal is to make it as appealing to the broadest audience possible.

So don’t go Middle Earth, the safer bet is more subtle upgrades that can appeal to the masses to make a sale that much easier.

Too Much Carpeting (or High-Traffic No-No)

While carpet can be a cozy upgrade for bedrooms, it can also be a risky proposition for busier areas, like living rooms or hallways. Carpets can also absorb stains, dirt, plus allergens and turn your dream floor into a contaminated zone. Invest instead in more durable materials like hardwood or stone for high-traffic areas–you get visual appeal and practicality, all in one.

Swimming Pools

It’s what many homeowners dream of, installing a pool in the backyard to sparkle in the sun and be the envy of all the neighbors. But the reality is that pools can be more like sinkholes with notoriously high upkeep, from opening chemicals, to closing chemicals, to maintenance chemicals, to whatever-needs-fixing chemicals.

Pools can also be safety and liability nightmares, skyrocketing your insurance even if you have privacy fences or locked gates. Another downside is that some potential buyers may want nothing to do with amenities like pools, thus slimming your chances of a future sale.

Walk-In Closets

Maybe you’ve binge-watched enough home makeover shows to know that converting spare bedrooms into walk-in closets can enhance your home’s overall vibe and appeal. But this upgrade might cost you a lot more than you think. Why?

• Bedroom Count: Typically, homes are valued by the total bedroom count, therefore reducing this count by one can potentially lower the resale value.
• Niche Appeal: Some may not see any value in oversized closets versus the living space, so you’re taking a risk with future buyers if looking to sell later on. 

Wine Cellars: Not Everyone’s Glass of Chardonnay

Although wine cellars can appeal to certain connoisseurs, it’s not a universal upgrade! For some buyers, especially those who are not wine enthusiasts themselves, this upgrade may have a whiff of luxury that can become more of a hassle. If you happen to be a wine lover and are considering adding a cellar, perhaps try a wine fridge or other storage space that you can repurpose more easily if need be. 

Be Wise, Consult Your Encinitas Realtor First!

Home upgrades can be a tightrope walk, since personal taste may ultimately affect the resale value and even alienate some potential buyers. If you need advice about what upgrades to invest in, contact Realtor Linda Moore today to find out how to make the best upgrades to positively boost your home’s value!