17 Home Renovations That Don’t Pay Off Anymore

Some home renovations seemed like great ideas at the time, but since home trends have changed, they are not cost-effective anymore. In this article, you’ll find a list of 17 home renovations that you should avoid making.

In-Ground Swimming Pools

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According to Forbes, the cost to install an inground pool is $35,000 on average and can range from $28,000 to $55,000 and sometimes upwards of $65,000. Unfortunately, though, the price of installing the pool doesn’t always pay off, as they are pricey to maintain and don’t add enough value to your property.

Home Theater

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Projector Screen says that a mid-range home theater seating setup with two to four seats can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 or more. While building a home theater suits some tastes, it’s a very specific way to use a room and may not pay off.

Gym

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Statistics from Civic Science show that 40% of adults in the U.S. own or have access to gym equipment at home. Many of them are converting a room into a home gym. But home gym rooms tend to be plain and cold and might seem uninviting to potential buyers who want to use the space differently.

Carpet

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According to Angi, the national average to install 330 square feet of carpet—the size of an average living room—is $1,776. Although wall-to-wall carpet feels nice, many buyers are now more drawn to properties with hardwood floors as they’re easier to clean and maintain.

Game Room

Cute woman playing video game
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Renovating your home to include a game room is great for families with children. But when potential buyers view your home, they may need help envisioning the game room as anything else when it’s cluttered with games. The room might look smaller and darker than it is when it’s full of games.

Custom Cabinets

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Custom cabinets are a great way to make your kitchen layout more productive and suited to the way you cook. However, the layout of the cabinets may not appeal to the person who’s interested in buying your home. And they’re not cheap. Bank Rate says that custom cabinets cost $500 to $1,200 per linear foot installed.

Elaborate Landscaping

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Elaborate landscaping and intricate designs may be interesting to look at, but they may not pay off when you come to sell your house. Many buyers are looking for low-maintenance yards, and people often want to see a simple design that they can put their personal touch on.

Extravagant Color Schemes

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HomeGuide says that the average cost to hire a painter is $20 to $50 per hour. However, painting rooms in extravagant colors may make it harder for potential buyers to envision the room any other way. They may see a paint job as a big task that they don’t want to tackle.

Sunroom

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Adding a sunroom to your property doesn’t always increase its value. Building a sunroom is expensive, and keeping the room warm is pricey too, especially if you live in a cooler region. Potential buyers may prefer a property with a larger yard rather than a space-consuming sunroom.

Themed Children’s Rooms

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Customizing a room for a child is another example of a renovation idea that may not pay off. Every child has their own style, and a future buyer may see the themed room as a renovation project that they would have to take on and thus be put off buying the house.

Closed Porch

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A closed porch in front of your home is a great space to keep shoes and coats. However, some buyers with different storage plans might view the addition of a porch as a waste of space and would prefer to have more room in the front yard.

Wallpaper

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Wallpaper trends change quickly, and different people like different styles. Because of this, wallpaper might be off-putting for potential buyers who would prefer to see a house decorated in neutral colors. They may view the wallpaper as an immediate project that they would have to remove or replace.

Garage Conversions

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Garage conversions can be expensive and don’t necessarily pay off. Potential buyers might want to use the garage space as advertised—a place to keep their car and a few miscellaneous bits. So a garage conversion may mean hard work for someone interested in buying your home.

Specific Smart Home Features

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Smart home features are a great way of making your home more tailored to your needs. However, adding home-altering smart features to your property may make the home seem unusable for buyers of an older generation or those who aren’t interested in creating a smart home.

Deck

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Installing a deck in your yard is expensive. The price of labor and expensive wood and other materials might not pay off. Homeowners without a use for a deck might see it as a waste of space and prefer a yard with more space for their children.

Personalized Rooms

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Highly personalized rooms that are owner-specific don’t pay off when you’re selling your home. Such personalization often creates work for potential buyers who would like a home with standard room finishings. It limits your chances of finding a buyer, as most are not looking for a project but rather something they can settle straight into.

Home Exterior Painting

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We all want to put our personal stamp on our homes. But painting the exterior of your home in elaborate colors is not a renovation idea that will pay off. Most buyers are looking for a home in neutral colors that they can maintain rather than something they would immediately have to decorate.

Read More: 17 Things Society Can No Longer Do Because Gen Z Said So

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Gen Z, our digital-native, trendsetting generation, is making waves in the cultural sea, steering the ship of societal norms in fresh and unexpected directions. As they charter new territories, there are certain practices they’d rather we say goodbye to. Curious? Let’s take a look at 17 things the rest of us can no longer do because Gen Z said so.

17 Things Society Can No Longer Do Because Gen Z Said So

18 Common Traits Found in Adults Who Had Unhappy Childhoods

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Being a parent is a hard job, so even those who are truly trying their best will often miss the mark on creating the best environment for their children. Unfortunately, this means that many of us grow up with far-from-perfect childhoods that affect us into adulthood. Here are 18 common traits found in adults who had unhappy childhoods.

18 Common Traits Found in Adults Who Had Unhappy Childhoods

18 Things Old People Just Can’t Get On Board with Today

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Over the past few decades, society has evolved, and with it, so have a few things that older generations find it uncomfortable to get the hang of. While younger generations are easily able to adapt to these changes, some of which are drastic, others may be struggling slightly. Here are 18 things the elderly may have difficulty learning.

18 Things Old People Just Can’t Get On Board with Today

19 Big Mistakes People Make After Losing a Spouse

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Losing a spouse is one of life’s most tragic experiences, and when we’re overwhelmed by grief, we might make some decisions that we’ll later regret. Here are 19 mistakes people make after losing their spouse.

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20 Time-Honored Practices Our Grandparents Followed That We Should Bring Back

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Our grandparents had a far simpler life. There was no such thing as social media. Instead, there was more walking and meals were always fresh and homemade. With so many things keeping us busy nowadays, sometimes life would seem much easier if we lived the way our grandparents did.

20 Time-Honored Practices Our Grandparents Followed That We Should Bring Back