Itching for an upgrade? If you’re ready to spruce up your home and you’re not sure where to start, your options are endless. The thing is, it can be difficult to choose. First and foremost, you’ll want to do whatever is best for your, your unique situation, and your overall happiness.
Though, some things are more “worth it” than others. What we mean by this is that some home improvements may work against you if you go to sell in the future, or they may be risker when it comes to standing the test of time.
Regardless, it’s all about what you want. But, if you’re having trouble choosing, here are a few home improvements that may not be worth the money in the long run.
Super Luxurious Kitchen Renos
When considering home upgrades, kitchens are often at the top of the list. Moreover, kitchens are taken highly into account for potential buyers. So, a kitchen refreshment or upgrade is always a good idea, especially if your home has a more dated kitchen. Though, there is some room for error here. If you pour a ton of money into a completely top-of-the-line, chef-style kitchen, you might be hard-pressed to get a return on your investment. Unless you live in an extremely luxurious neighbourhood, you won’t have a whole lot of wiggle room when increasing the price of your home in comparison to the standard value for the neighbourhood. Most people don’t require a chef’s kitchen, so unless you’re willing to eat the cost on re-sale or you never plan to sell, you may want to go for something a little more standard.
High-End Landscaping
The same goes for high-end landscaping. Not everyone has a waterfall, exotic plants, or permanent outdoor art on their “must-have” lists. Therefore, you could have difficulty getting any return on these investments. Nice, simple landscaping can elevate your home’s curb appeal, so landscaping itself isn’t a waste of money, that’s only when you get into the more extravagant additions.
Fully Integrated Electronics
If you’re someone who loves to have the latest and greatest when it comes to electronics and home entertainment, you should focus on that when upgrading your home. Though, you will want to do so with the future in mind. For example, luxury homes from the 90s are likely outfitted with sophisticated CD players, older sound systems and TVs, and all of the electronics that would have been state-of-the-art back then. You don’t want to rapidly age your home by adding electronics that are at risk of being obsolete in just a few years. So, when outfitting your home with all of your tech upgrades, be sure they are easy to switch out and have the potential to change with the times.
Eye-Catching Walls
If you’re adding murals or wallpaper to your home, you need to be aware of the fact that this can be hard to see past for future buyers. Future buyers want to look at a blank canvas and significant customization can make that difficult to do. While paint or wallpaper may not cost a ton, it could hurt your selling potential in the future.
Wine Cellars
Wine cellars or hyper-dedicated spaces like this are other upgrades that may not be worth the money. If you’re not worried about getting a return on your renovation budget, then this isn’t a concern, but choosing to modify a large space into something very specific to your interests may be a turn-off to potential future buyers. Imagine if you didn’t drink and your home came with a big, empty wine cellar? You’re either forfeiting that space or looking at a future renovation.
This story was made possible by our Community Partners Program. Thank you Peak Performance Painting for helping to expand local news coverage in the Bow Valley. Learn more.
