Home Upgrades That Are (and Aren’t) Worth the Money

Wondering which home upgrades will boost your home’s value? I’m sharing which improvements are a smart investment and which ones you should steer clear of, and I’m confessing a “taboo” home upgrade I might even be considering.

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[athens]

1. Never outspend your neighborhood.
2. Never take out a HELOC or an additional loan to do renovations.
3. Think about your timeline.
Home upgrades that increase value:
- Neutral tile backsplash in the kitchen.
- Hardwood floors
- Fresh coat of paint
- Updated bathrooms
- New closet systems
- New fixtures
Home upgrades that decrease value:
- New carpet
- Ultra custom choices
- Getting rid of rooms
- Eliminating variety in your homes' features
- A swimming pool

[JonnyBoyOT]

This is great advice if you want to SELL your home. If you want to LIVE in your home, don't listen to ANY of this and just make the small changes when you do decide to sell.

[cdewey]

We’ve had a pool over 30 years! It’s been a great fun addition and my kids and their friends spent tons of time in the pool. Now, my grandson’s have tons of fun in the pool.

[DTWCT]

#1 IMO
Air seal, insulate and replace old windows. Will save you thousands over time and obviously pay for itself while also making your house more comfortable

[crystaldon]

The background noise is so annoying i cant listen please take that away love you lady!

[Bonsai-Miata]

For single guys, a nice Corvette or Porsche in the garage really dress’s up the place !

[algorburn]

Once you install the pool, give a 1 year update on how often you use it and how cumbersome it is to maintain. As I actually consider homes having pool as a deterrent to potential buyers

[remingtonrl]

Landscaping is a great value add to a home!

[jamespn]

Chip and Joanna flips, paint the bricks white or gray, gut the interior and remove all the load bearing walls, paint every interior surface white, install all IKEA style cabinets, install an acrylic bath tub, install a large walk in shower with 6 shower heads. Paint all the exterior trim black. With the last few dollars in the budget, put down coal black mulch with some small anemic Hawthorne bushes and some cheap annuals. Then when the new owner moves in, they order a dumpster and tear out everything the flippers did and start over.

[PeperazziTube]

The biggest drawback of a pool: it's not a one-time expense, and requires an ongoing budget for maintenance and use.

[Rambleon]

It helps if the house is extremely clean and all the small touches, like perfect molding and caulking are done right.

[mrskitty]

We have an 11x11 cabinet area in our kitchen. We got custom cabinets to use every inch. No loss of 2” or 3” between cabinets, like a big box store. I ordered a small sink just a bit bigger than my largest baking pan and a corresponding smaller under sink cabinet to save space. I get compliments constantly. I also did a lot of research to make other smart decisions.

[susanb]

Appreciate the realness and honesty at the end. At the end of the day if you really want to do something to your home just do it.

[IsaacC]

Hardscaping also good returns. Basically, anything new upgrade that has longevity, doesn't require constant maintenance, and solves a problem.

For example, security camera systems, cabinets, decks, sheds, healthy lawn.

[ultrahighgain]

I've got too many pipes blowing up and appliances that stopped working years ago to worry about aesthetics.

[sf]

We put in a pool and love it. Be ready for an increased electric bill. We did a salt water generator and LOVE IT. 😊

[lyndsaymoehrman]

A tankless water heater is a huge upgrade in my opinion.

[thevalueofapenny]

Pools are very dependent on area. Most people really want one in Vegas. But your likelihood of being able to use it almost year-round is very high. I live in Greater Seattle. We can use an outdoor pool two months of the year. They are usually turn-offs here.

[bradd]

I agree with the pool thing but I can tell you it depends on the neighborhood you live in. We live in a nice hood in the north suburbs of Atlanta and every other house in the neighborhood has a pool, even though we have a neighborhood pool. When you get to a certain price range, many expect to have a pool, especially in the south.

[FrankandCents]

What about a new roof/gutters, furnace/air, along with plumbing and electrical upgrades? These fetch a higher ROI than anything else.