Why did you do that?!
Every day, real estate agents come upon cringe-worthy things homeowners have done to their homes. Leopard-print fabric wallpaper in the bedroom – yep. DIY electrical repairs – shockingly true. Sure, it’s your castle, and you can decorate or DIY to your heart’s content, as well as skip certain projects you just don’t think are important. But there are some smart reasons why real estate agents wouldn’t do the following things to their own homes.
Ignoring kerb appeal
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You worked for months on the interior of your home, and now that it’s Instagram-worthy, you’re too tired and uninspired to care about the shabby lawn and cracked walkway. Shake off the sawdust and swap out your tool belt for some gardening tools. “It pays to hire a professional to get some advice to ‘stage’ your yard, too,” says real estate broker Kelly Parks. “A bonus is that while you live there, you will also love it.”
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Painting in pastels
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Baby blue and millennial candy pink are lovely and soothing, but they don’t translate well on the face of the home. “Kerb appeal is very important, whether your home is on the market or not,” says real estate agent Leneiva Head. “You always want your home to feel welcoming.” And don’t forget the front door. It’s part of the all-important first impression.
Here are some other tips for choosing exterior paint colours.
Planting trees too close to the house
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Leafy trees, flowering bushes and colourful perennials instantly add a welcoming and homey touch to that all-important kerb appeal, but if you plant trees too close to the house, you might regret it down the road. Trees with long root systems can uproot the ground and your budget, and large limbs can fall on the roof or damage siding. “Roots over time can damage underground plumbing, foundation and driveways,” explains realtor Maya Madison. “It may look nice at first, but when you go to sell it in a few years, those roots will cause very expensive damage.”
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Going overboard with landscaping
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Elaborate landscaping – such as charming water features, immaculate perennial gardens, and ivy-covered trellises – might create your dream oasis, but it might turn off someone without a green thumb. “The problem comes into play when you decide to sell the home,” says Head. “The next person may find the thought of maintaining it a bit overwhelming and consider another home instead.”
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Over-customising
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A house is transformed into a home-sweet-home when you add personal touches, but if you’re thinking about selling your house down the road, you might want to rethink going all-in with your favourite motif. Broker Melanie Everett loves animal prints, but she’s not going to wallpaper her house with it. “I opted to buy some beautiful pillows instead,” she says. “Plus, I can take these with me to my next home, and I don’t have to worry about overwhelming a potential buyer.”
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Using loud and bold colours
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Hey, it’s your house, and if you want to paint your living room blood red and your kitchen pumpkin orange, go for it. But real estate agents would rather dip their paintbrushes into neutral colours. “There is a reason real estate agents and house flippers use neutral colours – they appeal to larger audiences,” says Parks. She also advises against wallpaper. There’s a slim chance a buyer will like it, and most buyers will take one look and think of the cost and labour to remove it.
Follow this guide to painting like a pro.
Not getting your home regularly inspected
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It’s standard procedure to schedule a home inspection so repairs or maintenance issues are addressed before listing. But real estate agents get home inspections even if they aren’t selling their house. “I have a home inspection every few years, even though I am not selling my house because it keeps me up to date on repairs,” says Parks. “It also alerts me to any deficiencies that are new that I need to take care of because I can’t climb on the roof or might not notice a leak. This information is really valuable because it saves me tons of money by making repairs before they cause extensive damage.”
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Investing too much money in upgrades
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Everett would never spend all her money on expensive upgrades without first looking at the comps of other houses in her area. “I would pick and choose the upgrades I think will bring the most return – maybe just the kitchen, since buyers love new kitchens,” she says. Some of the upgrade decisions are easier to make than others, like replacing outdated appliances. “That is a small expense that makes a big difference,” she explains.
These 12 home improvements virtually pay for themselves when it comes to resale value.
Hiring non-licensed contractors
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It’s probably not a big deal to DIY a loose floorboard or hire your cousin to install a ceiling fan, but when it comes to the major housing components like plumbing and electrical, you should hire licensed, bonded contractors and possibly get permits. “This is very important because real estate agents know the value of being able to say that a licensed contractor or expert did the work,” says Parks. “This gives a potential buyer peace of mind, knowing that things are right, and the same is true when they go to sell the house later.”
Here are 13 signs you’re about to hire a dodgy tradie.
Removing a bedroom
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The kids have finally flown the coop, and you have an extra bedroom you don’t need. That spa-like master ensuite is about to become a reality as soon as you remove the walls. But is it something a real estate agent would do? Not a chance. “You may not need the extra bedroom, but future buyers may,” says Madison. Not only does removing a bedroom lower your home value in comparison to other homes with similar square footage, but it also takes you off potential buyers’ shortlists. This is especially true if your house is located in a family-oriented neighbourhood, where an extra bedroom can make or break a deal.
Installing mismatched flooring
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It’s all about continuity – a seamless flow from one room to the next. Head says living with mismatched flooring, whether it is tile, carpeting or hardwoods, might not seem like a big deal in your day-to-day life, but when you decide to sell, it becomes a glaring eyesore. “Transitions from one room to the next should be uniform. If not, you could lose a potential buyer because they may feel like there’s too much work to be done to make the flooring look uniform,” says Head.
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Splurging on custom kitchens and baths
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“Bathrooms and kitchens sell houses because they are the most costly and troublesome to renovate,” says Parks. However, if you splurge on custom finishes, lighting, tile and other housing components that are too custom for the majority of people, you’re not likely to recoup your money. “Figure out a reasonable budget for your kitchen and/or bath that will add value, not exceed the return and cost you money in the end,” she advises.
On the other hand, these bathroom and kitchen upgrades could double the value of your home.
Neglecting repairs
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We’re all guilty of it from time to time – putting off repairs until you’re a month away from hosting a big party or waiting till the air-con completely stops running to call a service technician. Real estate agents address problem areas straightaway for two reasons. One, neglected areas in the home are unattractive. And two, they become expensive to repair when left unattended.
Comb this list for other sneaky ways your home is draining your bank account.
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Source: RD.com