Home Improvement Projects That Don't Add Value To Your Property
Are the repairs you're working on doing more harm than good?
When real estate appraisers compute the profit that can be acquired from a home for sale, they usually consider three major factors: location, accessibility, and the condition of the structure itself. More than that, they take into account how updated the home is and the repairs that have been done.Â
Are you looking to sell, too? Here's how to increase the resale value of your abode and make it attractive to future buyers:Â
High-end features in a low-end location
Some might even say this is an "over improvement"—it's when you put in luxurious elements that don't really match the value of the location of the property. Appraiser Rommel Gonzales recounts visiting a house which had a jacuzzi but it was surrounded by slum areas. "'Pag ibebenta mo 'yun, hindi ka makakasingil dahil maliit ang eskinita, walang parking. 'Yung mga taong may pera, hindi bibili sa ganung lugar. Limited ang market." Â
Consider first your neighborhood before you put high-end features such as a custom-designed modular kitchen or a swimming pool. Aside from a slum neighborhood, other limiting factors include risky locations beside railways, highways or near transmission lines.Â
Strange paint colors
When repainting, make sure the colors you use will appeal to more than just your own taste. Rommel recounts that he once had to negotiate for a house that had dark navy blue interiors. "Maaring sa nakatira, favorite color niya 'yun. Pero sa karamihan maaaring hindi makadagdag ng value, makakababa pa."
Unseen utility improvements
It's the owner's responsibility to keep "unseen" things such as electrical wiring and plumbing well taken care of, says broker Grace Salazar-Misa, especially with pre-owned houses worn out from years to use. Grace says that all these have to be in good condition when you sell the house. But, unfortunately, rewiring or replacing unseen pipes might not substantially add to the property's market value. It's still the outward appearance that counts the most.Â
This snippet is from an article ("Smart Improvements") that originally appeared in the September 2008 issue of Real Living Magazine.Â
