Remodels and Upgrades That Lower Your Home Value

Too much carpet

According to USA Today, citing the National Association of Realtors, 54% of homebuyers will pay more for a home with hardwood floors. Compared to hardwood and laminate, carpet shows wear faster.

Bright, energetic colors

Bright, energetic colors can put off any potential buyer whose imagination may not stretch to seeing the home repainted in their favorite color.

Fortunately, repainting rooms before listing the home is a fairly simple, if very important, fix. Choose neutral colors for the paint. This helps the buyer picture the home in their own style, HGTV recommends.

A too-modern kitchen

The kitchen is often seen as the heart of the home, and many homeowners invest serious money in it. However, the resale value of such a kitchen is far below what it cost. According to data on the Remodeling website, an upscale kitchen remodel returns only a fraction of its cost at resale - a classic example of over-improving for the neighborhood.

Fussy tile

“Any overly personalized remodel can only lower a home’s value, especially something like tile that takes extra effort and expense to replace,” says Bob Gordon, a Realtor and blogger at Boulder Real Estate News. Instead of inventing something off-the-wall, stick with classic, broad-appeal choices.

A luxurious bath

A state-of-the-art bathroom can certainly increase a home’s value, but it is very easy to overdo it by taking the idea of luxury too literally. Some bathroom remodel features can frighten off buyers - for example, personalized finishes or an oversized, over-designed master suite that makes the room feel less like a bathroom and more like a project.