5 Common Remodeling Projects That Don’t Pay Off

One of my broker’s favorite sayings is “Remember that your house is your home and not just an investment vehicle.” This is the place you raise your family and relax with friends. When a homeowner asks my opinion about investing in certain improvements, I encourage them to consider whether they are doing it for their own enjoyment or to increase their home’s value. Also, it is important to consider the time they plan to stay in this particular home. If you are a swimmer and live in Arizona, by all means put in a pool! But if you live in New England where the pool season is about 3 months and you don’t swim, my advice is forget it!

Here is a list from Money Magazine of “Don’ts” with some expert tips:

1. DO NOT put in a pool

You may think that a beautiful backyard pool will make buyers flock to your home, but many families don’t want to deal with the maintenance or the liability of an accidental drowning. “It’s an especially bad investment in the northeast and the northwest, where you have few hot months to actually use a pool,” says realtor Brendon DeSimone, a member of the National Association of Realtors and an expert contributor to Good Morning America and HGTV.

2. Don’t Convert a Bedroom

Turning a bedroom into a room that’s specific to your interests—such as a wine cellar or a library—is a risk. Once you start embedding wine refrigerators or bookshelves and customizing the space’s structure, the room becomes less valuable, because the next owner may not want to spend money renovating that room. “If you insist on doing it, at least make it easy to ‘un-do’ later when you want to sell,” says DeSimone.

3. Don’t Lay Carpet

Don’t bother carpeting any room in the house. “Natural hardwood flooring is what everyone wants these days,” says Moshkovich. Plus, wood floors tend to be easier to clean, they don’t show as much dirt and they’re better for family members who suffer from allergies.You can always add an area rug for warmth and to brighten decor… and take it with you when you go.

4. Don’t invest in fancy lighting

I find selecting lighting to be difficult design-wise. So unless you are in love with that Simon Pearce chandelier, something more modest will do. When you do go to sell, you won’t get your money back on a custom, expensive chandelier. There are lots of great sources online such as LightingDirect.com or even Lowes.

5. Don’t turn your garage into a room

I’ve seen some people turn garages into family rooms or play rooms—and then have a hard time selling their house,” says DeSimone. “Most people want a garage to stay a garage.” Not only do buyers want to protect their cars from rain and snow, but they also need a place to put dirty outdoor stuff, like lawnmowers, leaf blowers, shovels and garbage cans. Bottom line: Don’t go glam with your garage!