The Top 5 DIY Projects to Avoid

The Top 5 DIY Projects to Avoid

It’s become a common scenario – the homeowner who adds on a deck large enough for a Hollywood party, or builds a humongous home office space, complete with state-of-the-art wiring. A year later, the ambitious homeowner still can’t sell the house.

In the current housing market, it has become increasingly hard for homeowners to know exactly which additions will represent a worthwhile investment for a resale property. Even a money-making genius who knows all about secured loans and can handle any type of home financing transaction may feel powerless when it comes to deciding which home improvements will prove marketable in the long run.

That’s why it’s best to do some research first. Before you add those galvanized steel doors and sunken tubs, talk to a few real estate agents who handle upscale properties and get their opinions on what constitutes a marketable add-on for a high-end home.

In addition, it’s also a good idea to consult with a few architects to find out which are the most desirable features for those additions. Find out which ergonomic kitchen features are the most popular with homebuyers and which living room, bathroom and master bedroom additions will give your home the highest resale value.

Green Improvements

Whether you’re installing energy-saving lighting or putting in flooring made out of sustainable woods, it’s a good bet that green improvements will add to the resale value of your home. If you’re going green, however, it’s important to use a reputable architect who is LEED-certified and knows about sustainable materials. Otherwise, you could pay for solid bamboo flooring and end up with laminated, bamboo veneer.
The same applies to photovoltaic roofing and other energy-saving installations; make sure these are done properly by experienced, LEED-certified professionals, or you could be left paying for an inadequate installation that adds little or no marketable value to your home.

Home Office Space

Today’s office spaces are streamlined, with lightweight, portable furniture. Unless you want to recreate a nineteenth-century workspace for yourself, complete with polished, carved mahogany bookshelves and heavily upholstered armchairs, it’s best to make your home office addition as simple as possible. Extensive wiring won’t necessarily help, either; a lot of people may find it unnecessary for their computer systems.
Another fact to consider is that a lot of people have no desire to bring their work home with them, so they may not appreciate that gorgeous, 1,000 square foot home office addition. In the end, the experts say that it won’t necessarily add value to your property if you create a huge home office space unless it can be easily converted into a comfortable den or recreation room.

Decks

Many homebuyers are enthusiastic about built-on decks. As with any expensive addition, however, it pays to do your homework. Make sure that the deck is built in accordance with all safety standards and is constructed of wood and other products that won’t warp and wear in inclement weather. Nothing is a bigger turn-off to potential homebuyers than seeing a worn, rotting deck that requires expensive repair. That’s when the deck becomes a liability instead of an improvement.

For homeowners with an eye to resell, secured loans can help finance the renovations. Experts advise that it’s important to determine if the improvement will add value to your home and whether you’ll be able to recoup the added expense when you decide to sell. Use those secured loans wisely.
David Walton has been a journalist for over 15 years and writes regularly on a range of subjects including secured loans and other financial themes.

The Top 5 DIY Projects to Avoid