10 Home Improvements That Experts Say Are a Waste of Money

An Overly Customized Kitchen

An updated kitchen can add quite a bit of value to your home and your life while you live there. That said, don’t feel like you need to splurge on every single bell and whistle—and be mindful of going too far with highly customized options that aren’t easy to undo. 

“Major kitchen renovations can be expensive. Without careful budget management, costs can spiral and reduce the return on investment,” warns Jeff Holtsclaw, a real estate agent at Century 21 Bradley Realty Inc. He adds, “Personal tastes vary, and overly customized designs may not appeal to all buyers, limiting your market. In a sluggish real estate market, even a beautifully renovated kitchen might not significantly increase the home's selling price.” 

A Brand New Pool

Pools can make sense in the right location and for the right people—primarily those in warm climates where a pool will get consistent use throughout the year. However, they come with a huge up-front cost and ongoing maintenance. 

“Pools take time and effort to clean and, with water and energy costs sky-high, it’s also a considerable expense,” notes Sofia Vyshnevska, a housing expert and co-founder at NewHomesMate. “If it’s what you’ve always dreamed of, go ahead, but it could make it difficult to sell your home in the future.” 

Swapping a Tub For an Oversize Shower

Large steam showers are enjoying a moment of popularity, but don’t rip out your tub just yet. “These oversized steam showers are expensive, and so tailored to the homeowner,” says interior designer Sara Malek Barney, founder and principal of Bandd/Design. “While they are so enjoyable, they are not appealing to the masses and thus don’t help with resale value at all. Instead, it’s best to stick with an upgraded shower and keep the tub if you can.”

Over-the-Top Landscaping

A well-designed yard can definitely boost curb appeal, foster a sense of home ownership pride, and even improve your resale. However, going over the top with landscaping plans can sometimes backfire.

“Spending excessively on gardens, water features, or outdoor kitchens often doesn’t provide a good return on investment,” notes Michael Valente, founder and CEO of Renovation Sells. “Maintenance costs and the personal taste of buyers can also limit the overall value.” And remember: Every plant and tree you own will need to be watered and cared for.

One-Off Aesthetic Updates in Older Homes

If you’re planning to sell an older, non-updated home anytime soon and are considering ways to make it more appealing to buyers, it’s arguably best to avoid splurging on one-off aesthetic updates. 

“Unless it is a total upgrade or flip, simply swapping out an old countertop in an otherwise 1960s house with original windows and hardwood and bathrooms may not add value,” says Jessica Hoff, a real estate agent at Century 21 JRS Realty. Other examples might include new flooring or new light fixtures. “This costs the sellers potentially valuable time off the market, is a needless cost, and adds more stress—for something they will neither benefit from or enjoy.”

Costly High-End Plumbing Fixtures

Finishing touches in bathrooms and kitchens can round out your update, but don’t feel like you need to purchase the most luxurious options in order to enjoy a beautiful renovation. 

“I have personally agonized over which high-end plumbing fixtures to use in construction projects,” says Kyle Dutton, a residential construction expert. Whether it be fancy custom finishes or some exclusive European brand of faucets, I have learned the hard way that these ‘high-end’ products are not all they are cracked up to be.” 

He explains that installing something exclusive can sometimes mean that it is extremely hard to find replacement parts when they break down or even find technical support when things go wrong. Look for well-made, beautiful products that are easy to service. 

Converting a Bedroom Into an Office

With how many people work from home now, having a home office does make a lot of sense. Fortunately, this is often easy enough to do by simply adding the right furniture to your space. On the other hand, completely converting a bedroom with permanent built-ins or other expensive features may impact resale value. Valente says, “Reducing the number of bedrooms can deter potential buyers. A simpler, more versatile office space that can easily transform back into a bedroom is often a better investment."

Chasing The Latest Interior Trend

Seeing a trend take off on social media might inspire you to tackle a project in your own home, but before doing so think about whether you really like the look and are willing to live with it for the next five to 10 years. 

“While everyone wants their home to look up-to-date, design trends rarely stand the test of time,” says Vyshnevska. “It never takes very long for en-vogue trends to become unfashionable, especially if they’re niche or based on pop culture. Chasing trends—[like Barbiecore and Colorcore]—can make your home look trendy for a brief moment, but do you really want to constantly renovate to keep up?” 

Ultra-Specialized Spaces

If your dream home includes a wine cellar, home gym, or movie theater then go for it—it’s your home, after all! However, be aware that these ultra-specialized spaces may not appeal to buyers if you do decide to sell in the future. 

“Buyers will have to shell out to convert them back or, more likely, walk away from purchasing your property,” Vyshnevska says. “Buyers want versatile, multipurpose rooms, so you’re best holding off creating specialized spaces until you’ve found your forever home.” As an alternative, make changes that are easily reversible via furniture and paint.

Super Small Additions

If you’re planning an addition to your home, Dutton says your dollar may go further when planning a larger overhaul versus something small. For example, increasing the size of a closet or adding a teeny powder room likely won’t make financial sense at the end of the day. 

“Adding just a few extra square feet can break the bank because of set costs like architecture fees, engineering, and minimum build costs,” Dutton explains. “Unless you are planning on building a large addition where these costs get spread out over a larger area, bringing down the cost per square foot, focus on maximizing the space you have with a professional organizer or closet designer.”