Seven Home “Upgrades” That Don’t Cost the Money

Every home feature has a monetary value—how much it costs to install it and what return on that investment the homeowner hopes to get from it when they sell it. Only you can know when something is worth paying more for (if a house with a full bomb shelter sounds worthy to you, go for it). But some home features are rarely worth paying extra for, if only because they will cost you money in the long run, whether in maintenance and repairs or on your own time and effort.

Here are seven home features you might like, but aren’t worth paying extra for.

Home theater systems

There was a time when a professionally installed home theater was the epitome of home luxury. Big screen? Sound system in walls and ceiling? A projector and comfortable sofas? This is how fashionable people lived. A home theater certainly retains the glamor, and there’s nothing wrong with getting excited about movie nights if you spot one at an open house. But you should never overpay for them because they come up so quickly and so badly. Even a home theater system that was recently installed is probably already a little outdated. Meanwhile, TV screens are getting bigger and cheaper , streaming dongles give you access to more platforms, and soundbars are ubiquitous and easy to add to any room.

At best, you’ll have to spend time and money upgrading your home theater. In the worst case, you will spend much more to remove it.

Luxurious landscape design

Sometimes a huge open space can be impressive. You step out of your home and suddenly find yourself in a place that resembles an upscale resort or a lush garden, with carefully landscaped landscaping all around you. It’s easy to imagine all the parties you’ll throw and all the quiet cocktails you’ll enjoy in this incredible space.

And you probably will! But luxury landscaping (and huge outdoor spaces in general) has a huge downside that makes it more of a burden than a feature worth paying for: Maintenance. Most landscaping maintenance services are priced on an hourly or per square foot basis . The larger the space and the more things that need to be trimmed, processed, repaired, watered and fed, the higher your monthly bill (or your personal time spent sweating in the sun) to keep everything looking good.

And the problem with luxury landscaping is that without proper maintenance, it will quickly turn into a yellowing, overgrown mess that no one wants to see.

Steam showers

Luxurious steam shower – you can imagine stepping into it after a long day and relaxing as the sauna blossoms around you. And steam showers are expensive ( up to $14,500! ), so once you find one in your dream home, you might want to pay a little more since it will cost the same to install anyway.

But getting your hands on a steam shower means signing up for service. Lots of service . It’s no surprise that steam showers are very prone to mold, so keeping them clean is an almost daily task. The steam generator mechanism must be checked and cleaned regularly. And even with proper maintenance, these generators can develop leaks that can lead to costly water damage. In other words, if you buy a steam shower, don’t overpay for it because you ‘ll be paying for it for years to come.

Backyard pools

If you had a pool in your backyard as a child, you probably have fond memories that you’d like to replicate in your new home. And if you didn’t have a pool in your backyard as a kid, you probably have bitter memories of your neighbors enjoying one , which makes having a pool in your new home pretty exciting.

And yes, swimming pools are fun. But you won’t have to overpay for the pool. The added value of a pool is a tricky subject for real estate professionals, but the main thing to consider with a pool (or any water feature for that matter) is its maintenance: you’re buying a lot of work, or a lot of bills (on average approx. $1500 per year). And if the pool isn’t heated, you’ll still have to keep it closed for most of the year—and maybe invest in a fence.

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying or even wanting a pool. Just don’t overpay for the pool.

Built-in technology

A kitchen with built-in appliances can look sleek and elegant . And for a short period of time it can become a state-of-the-art high-end kitchen. But these appliances will likely become outdated in terms of style and problematic in terms of functionality in a few years, if they are not already outdated.

And built-in appliances are difficult to replace and repair, leading to additional costs when you have to replace trim or remove cabinets just to access them. Given the conventional wisdom that you should remodel your kitchen every 10 to 15 years , paying extra for these things will probably be a waste since you’ll likely be replacing everything anyway.

Vacuum cleaners for the whole house

Central vacuum systems are making a comeback, marketed for their convenience: Instead of lugging a heavy vacuum around each room, you can simply plug in a lightweight hose and get to work. There’s no denying that a central vacuum can make cleaning your home a little easier, but if you’re not confident in having one, it should be seen as a nice little addition that you pay absolutely no extra for.

First, they aren’t all that expensive to install, with prices ranging from $800 to $3,500 , so even a brand new system doesn’t add much value to the home. On the other hand, while they’re convenient, they’re far less of a hassle than a regular vacuum cleaner—you’ll still have to plug that hose into every room to get the job done. Additionally, repairing a central vacuum system can cost up to $500 , as opposed to simply purchasing a new stand-alone vacuum.

Wall to wall carpet

Wall-to-wall carpet is sometimes touted as a luxury statement, and if you like the feel of thick carpet under your bare feet, this might be it. But it’s almost never worth overpaying for it. If you don’t know that the carpet was recently installed, installed well, and has the pile and material you want, you’re buying someone else’s carpet that may or may not be as clean as you want.

Carpet in general means a lower resale value for your home (as opposed to hardwood floors, which increase the value of your home), and that’s all you need to know about its value proposition.

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