It’s tempting to jump on trendy home improvement ideas, but some of them are just money-wasting home upgrades
32 Home Upgrades That Experts Say Are a Huge Waste of Money
Updated on Jun. 24, 2025
Too many improvements
One of the first things Realtors do to determine the value of your home is to run the “comps,” or comparables, of other homes in your neighborhood. “If you improve your home too much, in any area, you may price your home outside of the neighborhood you live in,” says broker Ryan Fitzgerald, the owner of Uphomes, a real estate listing website. Depending on where you live, a large or expensive remodel might not match up with the price per square foot of neighboring homes. “You may find you’re priced well outside the neighborhood price range,” Fitzgerald says.
Inconsistent design and fixtures
A farmhouse-style kitchen tricked out with shiplap and subway tile may be your design dream come true, but if the rest of the house has gold fixtures and shag carpet, it’s a home upgrade you might regret when it’s time to sell. “If you go from modern brushed nickel fixtures in one room and then walk into a room full of gold fixtures, your home is going to feel inconsistent to the buyers,” Fitzgerald says. “Keep your fixtures and designs consistent.”
Standard capital expenditures
Replacing an HVAC system, water heater or roof are standard home upgrades, so they’re not a waste of money while you’re living in the home. Just don’t get too excited about regaining much of your investment. “Buyers will view these improvements as necessary for the home to function properly, and assume the reason you made the purchase is that you received full use of the old one,” Fitzgerald says.
Upscale decks
All those weekend trips to the hardware store to buy wood, nails and stain gave you a deck to be envied, but don’t expect to recoup the cost. Upscale decks just aren’t in demand in the resale market, warns Fitzgerald. Home buyers don’t usually look for fancy upgrades—they just want a solid, well-kept space. So if you’re hoping to sell your home as fast as possible and make a good profit, skip this pricey improvement that doesn’t really boost your home’s market value.
Extensive landscaping
A beautifully landscaped yard is pretty to look at, but don’t expect a lot of green to come back your way. “If you’re paying for extensive landscaping such as fountains or rock walls, don’t expect buyers to pay for it,” says Fitzgerald. You may enjoy hours toiling in the soil and tending to your koi fish, but potential buyers see a lot weeding, watering and maintenance.
Swimming pools
“One of the biggest misconceptions in real estate is that by adding a pool your home’s value will increase,” Fitzgerald says. Pools, both in-ground and above-ground, are expensive, and they require time and money to maintain and insure. Plus you’ll need pool safety measures, like fencing and gate locks, if you have young children. “If you’re going to add a pool, do it for pleasure, not for resale value. Many folks will never recoup the cost of the pool when they sell their home,” Fitzgerald says.
DIY project fails
“You may think you’re saving money by doing projects yourself, instead of paying a professional to do it, but not when it comes time to sell,” cautions Fitzgerald. Buyers scrutinize the small stuff. “One of the first things buyers notice is the craftsmanship, especially if things aren’t done correctly,” Fitzgerald says. “The few bucks you might save doing it yourself may end up costing you thousands in the sale.” Cringey home improvement fails will be seen by potential buyers, and they’re perfect examples of how cutting corners can backfire.
Sun rooms
“A sun room addition may seem like a beautiful investment into your home, but proceed with caution,” warns Mary Ann Graboyes, a referral agent with Keller Williams in Exton, Pennsylvania. Sun rooms do provide coveted square footage increases that everyone wants, but your taxes may increase along with them. Plus, a sun room can take away from yard space, which may be a negative for some buyers.
Murals and wallpaper
Painting murals or adding wallpaper to spruce up a dull wall? It may seem like a cheap home upgrade, but Graboyes says it’s not the best way to invest your money. Removing wallpaper or painting over murals can be expensive and difficult, and potential buyers often have a hard time seeing past them.
Back-up generators
Unless you’re in a rural area, or a location that experiences frequent power outages, a back-up generator isn’t going to wow the socks off home buyers. Graboyes says this home upgrade is pricey—typically about $10,000 to $20,000—but doesn’t generate a lot of cash when you sell.
Specialty built-ins
Built-in fish aquariums and hot tubs are unique items that may deliver personal joy, but they also require a lot of maintenance and may not tickle a buyer’s fancy. “More often in real estate transactions, a specialty built-in becomes a hindrance to the sales opportunity,” Graboyes says.
Converted garages
Your commitment to fitness is admirable, but converting your garage into a gym is more an exercise of sweat equity than home value. In fact, it’s one of the top money-wasting home upgrades. “Most buyers want their garage available for cars, not gym equipment,” Graboyes says. “Before finishing a garage with gym equipment, flooring, electric, plumbing and heating, take your gym to the attic or basement.”
Personal and custom renovations
Your home should reflect who you are, but if you plan to sell it someday steer clear of extensive personal and custom renovations, like yoga studios and wine cellars. “Buyers are looking at the home as their own, and they do not want to have to do more renovations,” says Justin Krzyston, a contractor and designer who owns Stonehurst Construction in Los Angeles. “Keep your renovations clean and simple.”
High-end niche upgrades
Saunas and steam showers with heated floors and towel bars are creature comforts anyone would love, but usually, these are money-wasting home upgrades. “Unfortunately, they won’t bring back money when you go to sell your home,” Krzyston says. “These upgrades are costly, and a little too personal to the current homeowner.” Instead, invest in cheaper home repairs that anyone can do, which offer better value and broader appeal to potential buyers.
Over-the-top tech
Expensive sound systems, high-end pool lights or showy home theaters aren’t likely to add any real value to your home. “They are fun upgrades, but they are so costly to install and won’t add a significant resale value,” Krzyston says.
Wall-to-wall carpeting
“Instead of installing brand new wall-to-wall carpeting before you sell your home, just spend the money to get it cleaned,” suggests Krzyston. Even luxurious blends could be seen as a deterrent to home buyers, because of allergies or high maintenance. “Chances are that the buyer doesn’t want carpeting, or they don’t like your choice of carpet, so let them choose what they want and they can spend the money to install carpeting,” Krzyston says.
Fireplace mantels
Fireplace mantels are a popular add-on, but they won’t fire up the value of your home, and they often turn out to be money-wasting home upgrades. “Homeowners shouldn’t spend money on renovating their mantels, or adding built-in bookshelves on the sides of their fireplace,” Krzyston says. “Instead, make sure they get their fireplace inspected. Cracks in the fireplace can scare buyers away, so make sure the inside of the fireplace is seller-ready.”
New front door or porch
First impressions are everything, but spending money on a new door, porch or fancy facade doesn’t open the door to more cash coming in. Instead, just make sure your entry makes a good first impression. “Spend a little extra cash to power wash the front stoop,” suggests Krzyston. “Power washing will clean things up quickly, and it is far less money than building a new porch.”
Master bedroom addition
If you live in an older home that was built before the advent of master suites, you may be tempted to add value by building a master bedroom to compete with other homes for sale. It’s a costly and extensive home upgrade, and it’s something real estate agents don’t do. “Simply put, it’s a waste of money,” Fitzgerald says. “It’s likely going to cost you much more than you realize when you could sell your home, buy a new one and spend much less!”
Home office conversions
Talk about a money-wasting home upgrade! “This is one surefire way not to recoup the money you spend on renovations, especially if you are taking the home down to two or three bedrooms,” warns Fitzgerald. “That is going to have a serious impact on the buyer pool, and the families who are looking for four bedroom homes won’t even see yours on their search, since it doesn’t match their search requirements.”
Solar panels
We’re all for going green when we can, but solar panels won’t increase the value of your home, according to Fitzgerald. “In fact, most solar panels will deter buyers based on their appearance,” Fitzgerald says. “Most buyers are not open to sacrificing appearance for saving on monthly expenses.” In some cases the panels are leased, which is another factor to consider. “If you’re going to add solar panels, do it because you intend to live in the home for a long time.”
Top-of-the-line flooring
“Any flooring, whether it is hardwood or carpet, must be in top condition for a great return on your home upgrade investment,” Fitzgerald says. If you need new flooring, Fitzgerald says to choose something clean, modern and cost-efficient. “This will do the trick in both the online photos and in the showings.”
Motion sensor lights
Motion sensor lights outside can be a desired safety feature, but adding them everywhere else? Not such a bright idea for added home value. “This is something that is very specific both in design and function, and not every homeowner would want motion lights around their home,” says Veronica Sniscak, a Realtor and senior vice president at Compass real estate.
Closet upgrades
As much as we try to downsize, custom-made closets with ample storage are still a home upgrade most people would love. But, Sniscak says a prospective buyer may not realize the value: “These kinds of closet systems can be costly, and I don’t see them increasing the value to the home, especially compared to the cost of installing them.”
Garage door replacements
The front door and garage are part of that all-important first impression curb appeal, but if your current garage door is functional, adding a new designer one that is quieter or has a keyless entry isn’t going to increase the value of your home, Sniscak says. There are cheaper improvements that will sell your home faster, so why not boost curb appeal in a more practical way?
Over-the-top bathrooms and kitchens
Updated kitchens and bathrooms do bring value, but the key is not over-renovating. “When a homeowner over-renovates with top-of-the-line European appliances, granite, marble and other bells and whistles, it doesn’t bring in the value the homeowner would expect,” says Wally Fakhreddine, a Realtor with Top Edmonton Real Estate. “What might seem great to some, might not be a big deal to others.”
Fencing upgrades
Good fences may make good neighbors, but home buyers won’t pay extra for these money-wasting home upgrades, Fakhreddine says. Concrete posts, wrought iron fencing, elaborate finials and decorative caps are nice to look at—but they won’t give you a big return on your investment. Stick with the basics if you install fencing. Many smaller design and decor ideas can make your home look expensive and offer better visual impact—without the high cost.
Taking rooms away
Is creating a new, roomier bedroom worth sacrificing an existing bedroom? Not a good idea, according to Fakhreddine. “Taking a bedroom away from a home could be a negative when a family with children is looking at your home, and they are in need of bedrooms for everyone in the family.”
Outbuildings
She sheds and man caves in the backyard are fun bonus structures to your home. Let the good times roll when you’re hanging out with friends! But Steve Frellick, a licensed contractor and the founder and owner of Yonder Vacation Rentals, calls these outbuildings a “return on enjoyment,” not investment. That’s immeasurable, but unfortunately it doesn’t add up to better home value.
Upgraded electrical system
Unless you need to upgrade the electrical system, don’t do it. “There is no added value during an appraisal, and because most buyers do not see the new wiring, they will most likely not be wowed or interested in paying more for this,” says Luis Dominguez, a Realtor with The Lab Realty Group.
New drywall
It’s difficult to keep the walls in your home pristine. Dings, dents and spills are nearly inevitable, but replacing the entire wall is overkill. “This can cost thousands and literally add zero in value,” says Dominguez, so skip this money-wasting home upgrade. Cheap DIY home projects like patching, sanding and painting are sufficient, and they’ll make your home look fresh at resale.
Interior doors
Solid-wood core, six-panel doors are the crème de la crème of home interiors. A house with these matching doors promotes an overall richer look, but installing new doors doesn’t open the door to increased value, Dominguez says. For a cheap home upgrade, repaint or re-stain the door instead, and change the door handles.
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Sources:
- Ryan Fitzgerald, owner/broker with Uphomes, North Carolina
- Mary Ann Graboyes, a referral agent with Keller Williams in Exton, Pennsylvania
- Justin Krzyston, contractor, designer and owner of Stonehurst Construction
- Veronica Sniscak, Realtor and senior vice president with Compass
- Wally Fakhreddine, Realtor with Top Edmonton Real Estate
- Steve Frellick, co-founder/owner of Yonder Vacation Rentals
- Luis Dominguez, luxury real estate agent at The Lab Realty Group
