Home improvement projects can be fun and exciting, letting you design your home in whatever way that suits you. However, there are some home improvement projects that you should avoid. These home improvement projects to avoid not only don’t provide a good return on investment, they could make it difficult to sell your home in the future.

Pool Installation

Pools and hot tubs only appeal to a small number of people as many don’t want to deal with the upkeep necessary to maintain them. Pools can be costly, with price tags between $30,000 and $75,000. If you live in the Northeast, you can only use a pool for a few months out of the year, so your return on investment will be much lower than that of a homeowner in South Florida who installs a pool.

Built-In Aquariums

Aquariums are beautiful and there is research that an aquarium can provide a peaceful, relaxed feeling to a room. However, like pools, they require significant maintenance and upkeep. Therefore, a potential buyer may not see the benefit in a stunning built-in aquarium if they have no desire to take care of fish.

Home Office

Home office renovations can be expensive and it is not an addition that many buyers will find beneficial. If the room does not have a closet, it cannot be considered a bedroom and research indicates that home buyers would prefer an extra bedroom rather than an elaborate home office. Instead of creating an entire room for your office, choose a section of a room, add a desk, chair and good lighting that can be removed easily if you decide to sell.

Sunrooms

Although sunrooms can be beautiful and you may envision warm, sunny days sipping coffee and reading the paper, the fact is that sunrooms are expensive to install. Research indicates that a sunroom only recovers about 50 percent of our investment. Because sunrooms have a lot of glass which does not provide insulation, energy costs can be significant in both summer and winter.

Over-the-Top Landscaping

Although you want to landscape your home for curb appeal, expensive landscaping rarely provides a good return on your investment. Creating a backyard paradise or gardens in the front yard that look professional may not be a benefit to some homeowners who will feel as if they have to spend significant time on upkeep. Keep your lawn cut and your gardens weeded if you plan to sell your home, but don’t go overboard on landscaping.

Expanding a Garage

Adding on to your garage can give you a new workspace, additional storage or even space for another car. However, a garage addition can cost tens of thousands of dollars and it is unlikely you will recover your investment.

Jacuzzi Tubs

Jacuzzi, or whirlpool, tubs sound like fun and can be very relaxing. They are beneficial if you suffer from chronic muscle aches or joint pain, but most potential buyers will not pay extra for a whirlpool tub in a bathroom. Whirlpool tubs often come with higher energy bills and additional maintenance costs. They can also be difficult to install and you may be required to add a larger hot water tank that can be costly.

Before embarking on home improvement, be sure that it is not one of the home improvement projects to avoid. If you need assistance with your home improvement project, contact us today by phone or online to learn what products will best suit your needs.