Home Improvements to Avoid

Thank you for once again visiting my Eagle Idaho Realtor blog! In this installment we will discuss the value of home improvements for potential home buyers  and how making the wrong home improvements to your Idaho home can end up costing you twice: once when you pay to have them done, and once more at closing time. This sort of information is just a sample of my Idaho Realtor Services that I offer my Idaho Real Estate clients. Understanding what factors can affect your homes selling price, especially in this difficult market, can make all the difference in coming out ahead or ending up with empty pockets on what could be a large investment of time and finances. Lets get to the info…

One of the first things people recommend when asked how to increase the value of a home is to renovate, add features, or upgrade the features. While this is good general advice, you need to be careful, some home improvements could actually end up costing you more than they are worth. You see, when it comes time to sell, those improvements may do nothing to increase the value of the property and may even turn off potential homebuyers.

Over-the-Top Might Push You Over the Edge

Not all renovations will raise the value of your home. Bigger is not always better, and sometimes less IS more.Unless your home is located in Beverly Hills or some other very posh neighborhood, don’t install the bathroom with the supersized steam shower, flat screens over the toilet, or gold plated fixtures…unless you have money to do burn for your own pleasure and enjoyment only. Those kinds of improvement doesn’t typically do anything to increase the value of the average home, and may actually not be what the potential buyers are interested in — translating to extra costs for them.

Real estate professionals suggest that homeowners pour over local home listings to see what amenities are the standard in your area, then upgrade your home to meet it. Overdoing it in the end may only cost you more cost out of pocket and at closing time.

Swimming Pools, Movie Stars

While they are a great feature, especially if you love to swim, a pool may not be the thing to draw in hoards of potential buyers. Some may consider it a perk, but others may perceive it as more trouble than it’s worth when they consider the upkeep and maintenance of keeping it clean.

It’s not uncommon that some homeowners even pay to have their swimming pools buried to create more yard space. Putting in a pool to try and help raise the value of the home could be a huge investment with very little, or possibly even negative returns.

Not Everyone Wants a Home Office

A home office can be a great feature, if you work from home, or own your own company. If you are planning to add an office as an upgrade build it with frugality as potential home buyers very likely will have a different use for the space in mind. Don’t steal usable space from another living area to create a home office. If you do add an office, or renovate the existing one,make sure the space can easily be converted back into a bedroom or other living space if needed.

Unique Construction

These can range from exotic texturing on the walls, curved corners, to wild Star Wars themed bonus rooms (complete with Death Star disco ball dance floors! ). While the builders love these for their

models and parade homes you very definitely want to consider how much you design the spaces to cater to your specific tastes – which likely will not match those of potential homebuyers. (altho who wouldn’t want a Death Star disco ball, right!? )

Avoid making outlandish changes to your home or changes that will be perceived as adding work for a future homeowner to change on their own. Don’t be tempted to incorporate these ideas into your own home, unless you don’t plan on selling anytime soon. Homebuyers may not share your enthusiasm when they are tearing down walls and putting in different flooring.

Raise the Roof!

If your roof needs repair, don’t hesitate to have the work done. It will be one less issue you’ll have to deal with when listing your home. However simply replacing a perfectly good roof with something more custom like cedar shakes or clay tiles, while attractive, may not work in your favor as even though they add appeal to the homes appearance they are not something potential buyers will necessarily see as being worth paying extra dollars for. Keep it simple when preparing your home to be listed on the real estate market, make the upgrades and improvements that make sense and will carry over into actual return on your investment.

Need help selling your home in Eagle Idaho? Maybe you are worried that the real estate market may be still too volatile to make back what you have invested in your home and so you are thinking you’ll ride it out. Eagle Idaho Real Estate is on the move! As one of the top growing cities in the country, and a top rated region to live in, it’s a great time to sell your home. Contact Bill Cady today to learn more about how a qualified and experienced Eagle Idaho Realtor can help you get the most for your home!