13 Common Remodeling Mistakes – You can Avoid

If you’re planning a remodel you’ll want to avoid these common remodeling mistakes.

Regrettably, some homeowners make poor choices when it comes to remodeling, improvements, additions, or maintaining the house.  Instead of preserving or increasing the monetary value of the house, the opposite occurs – the house loses value!

That’s the message from the real estate website ActiveRain.com  in a recent post.

Here’s the list,  most of these need no explanation.

1. The Enclosed Garage
2. Not Adding a Second Bathroom
3. Illegal Additions,  Failure to get Permits
4. Poor Home Maintenance
5. Losing Bedrooms
6. Not Updating Worn or Outdated Flooring
7. Old or Dilapidated Appliances
8. Out-Dated or Worn Draperies, Counter Tops, Light Switch Covers
9. Cigarette Smoking Indoors
10. Painting the House the Colors of your Alma Mater
11. Landscape Over-Kill
12. Too Much Outdoor Living (too many Outdoor Improvements)
13. Trampolines and Above-Ground Pools.

This is a great list –  one every homeowner should consult prior to remodeling or selling their home.  Especially if they want to get the maximum  sale price.

Want proof –  the comments on the post say it all:

This will become a page in my introduction book to buying or selling that I give to each new client.

Craig Cooper, Real Estate Agent / Tahoe City, CA

I come across frequently - not pulling the permits for the upgrades (with the fear of assessment and  town taxes going up) and closing the garage to add living space. Garage in New England area is important feature.

Praful Thakkar, Real Estate Agent / Andover, MA

It's all true. Especially with paint colors...as an agent it's tough to say: this is the wrong color, too bright/dark/loud/etc.  Sellers take it too personally.

Mary Hutchison, Real Estate Agent / Kansas City, MO

Great list ....Permits are a question on our required Real Estate condition report in Wisconsin...and we take that one step further and go to the municipality and check if they were pulled AND closed.

Sally K. & David L. Hanson, Real Estate Agent / Brookfield, WI