32 home upgrades that are a huge waste of money

Home upgrades come in different shapes and sizes. Converting an extra bedroom into a home office may be just as satisfying as installing motion sensor lights, but neither one adds significant value to your home. If you want to add real resale value to your home, don’t waste your money doing these.

One of the first resources realtors use to determine the value of your home is the neighbourhood you live in and the homes in it. “If you improve your home too much, in any area, you may price your home outside of the neighbourhood you live in,” warns Ryan Fitzgerald, owner/broker of Uphomes. A large or expensive remodel that doesn’t make sense in your neighbourhood won’t match up with the price per square metre with neighbouring homes. “You may find you’re priced well outside the neighbourhood price range,” says Fitzgerald.

Meanwhile, here are 12 home improvements that will practically pay for themselves.

A farmhouse style kitchen tricked out with fixtures, shiplap and subway tile may be your design dream come true, but if the rest of the house has gold fixtures and shag carpet, it’s a home upgrade that doesn’t add value. “If you go from modern brushed nickel fixtures in one room and then walk into a room full of gold fixtures, your home is going to feel inconsistent to the buyers. Keep your fixtures and designs consistent,” suggests Fitzgerald.

Replacing an HVAC system, water heater or roof can be standard home upgrades for most homeowners, but with regard to resale, don’t get too excited about regaining much of your investment. “Buyers will view these improvements as necessary for the home to function properly and assume the reason you made the purchase is that you received full use of the old one,” says Fitzgerald.

Find out how to renovate for profit in 10 easy steps.

All those weekend trips to the hardware store buying woods, nails, and stain for your DIY home upgrade produced an expansive deck to be envied – just don’t expect to recoup the cost of a composite or upscale deck, because the market isn’t demanding it, warns Fitzgerald.

Find out how to lay easy-maintenance decking.

A beautifully landscaped yard is pretty to look at but don’t expect a lot of green to come back your way. “If you’re paying for extensive landscaping such as fountains or rock walls, don’t expect buyers to pay for it,” says Fitzgerald. You may enjoy hours toiling in the soil and tending to your koi fish but potential buyers see a lot weeding, watering and maintenance.

Find out how to increase the curb appeal of your home in a weekend.

“One of the biggest misconceptions in real estate is that by adding a pool your home’s value will increase,” says Fitzgerald. In-ground pools and above-ground pools are expensive and require time and money to maintain and insure, not to mention additional safety measures to consider if you have young children. “If you’re going to add a pool do it for pleasure, not for resale value. Many folks will never recoup the cost of the pool when they sell their home,” Fitzgerald says.

Still set on a pool? Follow this swimming pool guide.

“You may think you’re saving money by doing projects yourself instead of paying a professional to do it, but not when it comes time to sell,” cautions Fitzgerald. Buyers scrutinise the small stuff. “One of the first things buyers notice is the craftsmanship, especially if things aren’t done correctly. The few bucks you might save doing it yourself may end up costing you thousands in the sale,” says Fitzgerald.

Read about 11 of the funniest DIY fails.

“A sun room addition may seem like a beautiful investment into your home, but proceed with caution,” warns real estate agent Mary Ann Graboyes. It does provide that coveted space everyone wants but your taxes may increase. Plus, a sun room can take away from yard space, which may be a negative thing for some buyers.

Painting murals or adding some wallpaper to a dull wall may seem like a cheap home upgrade, but it’s not the best way to invest your money according to Graboyes. Removing wallpaper or painting over murals can be expensive and difficult. Potential buyers often have a hard time seeing past them.