Is
digging up the backyard to put in a pool worth it? What about upgrading
a tired-looking kitchen with gleaming marble countertops? And what
about installing high-tech speakers—throughout the house? If you’re
planning to renovate your home, you may already be asking yourself these
questions. But when it comes to increasing your home’s appraisal value,
the answer to them isn’t always a resounding yes.
To help ensure that your reno dollars are well spent, the team at LearnVest
asked real estate experts across the country to weigh in on the top
five home improvement dos that can boost resale value—and five don'ts
that just aren't worth the extra expense.
Reno Do #1: Upgrade Your Kitchen
All of our
experts agree that a kitchen renovation should be at the top of your
list, since it's the heart of a home—the room where families spend most
of their time. But where to start? A couple of givens include upgrading
to stainless steel appliances and installing countertops made from
engineered stone or granite, because these fairly easy changes will
improve the aesthetic appeal of the space. Details can also make a
difference, like putting shiny knobs on cabinets and purchasing a
sparkling new faucet for the sink.
Another
wise kitchen upgrade? Knocking down a full or half wall, so you can
connect the kitchen to a den or living room. “It makes the kitchen feel
more spacious," says Phyllis Rockower, owner of the Real Estate
Investors Club of Los Angeles in California. "If you’re cooking, you can
still hear what people are saying during a party, or keep an eye on
your kids while they’re playing.”
Reno Do #2: Revamp Your Bathroom
A
toilet that looks old, cracked or dirty (or doesn’t flush properly) is a
turn-off—and the same goes for a vanity, which should be eye-catching
and practical. “Install a vanity that recesses into the wall, so it
saves space,” advises Alen Moshkovich, a broker for Douglas Elliman in
New York City.
Proper
lighting can also be a great value booster, such as adding a window in
the bathroom, so natural light can illuminate the space. There's one
other more simple fix that homeowners tend to overlook: Reglazing a tub,
rather than getting a new one, will save you money and upgrade the look of your bathroom.
Reno Do #3: Go Greener
“In the
last four to five years, there’s been a growing demand for green
housing,” says Tom Ferstl, a commercial and residential real estate
appraiser at Ferstl Valuation Services in Little Rock, Arkansas. “Making
your home more energy efficient is a plus—anything that helps keep heat
in during the colder months and out during the warmer months will
help.”
The changes
can be small, such as adding storm doors or a ceiling fan in each room.
Or they can be large, like double- or triple-paning your windows. Want
more ideas on how to renovate your home in a green way? Check out Regreen, a site created by the American Society of Interior Designers Foundation and the U.S. Green Building Council.
Reno Do #4: Invest in a Sprinkler System
Many
homeowners don’t want to be bothered with maintaining a stunning,
landscaped garden, so planting tons of tress, bushes or flowers isn’t
necessarily going to elevate your home’s value. But everyone wants green
grass, so adding a sprinkler system that automatically turns on and off
is a good investment, says Ferstl, because it allows a buyer to keep a
lawn looking good without much work.Reno Do #5: Install Built-In Speakers
High-tech homes stand out and will impress buyers. Your best
bet is to centrally wire a sound system in your home, and put a speaker
in every room, so you can control music from anywhere in the house with
one remote. Rockower also suggests installing surround sound in the den
or living room (basically wherever you watch TV), which makes watching
movies or sporting events more exciting.
Reno Don't #1: 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.Reno Don't #2: 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.
Reno Don't #3: Lay Down 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. “If you're looking to
save, engineered wood is cheaper than 100% natural wood—and it still
looks good,” suggests Moshkovich.
Reno Don't #4: Install Ornate Lighting
Buyers like
bright lighting, but if you empty your wallet buying an over-the-top
chandelier, you probably won’t get most of your money back, notes
Ferstl. “Some people go all out when decorating a dining room, but the
next owner may want to turn the dining room into a bedroom, so it’s
often a waste," Rockower says. Her recommendation: Opt for subtle high
hat or recessed lighting or get a basic chandelier or hanging fixture
from Home Depot—you can find a bunch that look good for under $100.
Reno Don't #5: Redo Your Garage
“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!
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