For most people, their house is the biggest thing they will ever purchase. It makes sense that you would want to do everything you can to take care of your investment and protect the value of your property.
There are many different factors that play a role in determining the value of your home. There are certain things like the proximity to shops and excellent schools that you really have no control over. However, there are many other things that you do have control over.
Here are 6 things that can lower the value of your property.
1. An unsightly yard
There’s a reason it’s called curb appeal. Your property value can easily suffer if your yard is in poor condition, if your lawn isn’t maintained, or if you can hardly even see your house because it’s being overrun by shrubbery and weeds. You also don’t want a lot of trees too close to your house, especially in areas where there tend to be a lot of storms. On the other hand, too elaborate landscaping may turn some buyers off because they will think it’s too high maintenance.
2. Lots of carpet
Carpet is much more difficult to clean than other types of flooring, it can show damage easier, and it can retain odors more than other types of flooring. A better flooring option these days is hardwood.
3. Poor maintenance
When you’re putting your house on the market, suddenly all those DIY projects or experiments with your friends and some YouTube videos who insisted you could “do it on your own” when there was a leak in the ceiling that needed to be fixed seem like a bad idea. Buyers will be able to sniff out shoddy maintenance jobs so make sure you always hire licensed and certified tradesmen for any plumbing, gas, electrical, heating, or air conditioning projects.
4. Some renovations
Although there are many renovations that add to a property’s value, certain renovations may make your property less attractive to buyers. For instance, going overboard with landscaping or gardening may seem to require too much maintenance to a potential buyer.
5. Unique colors
The color of your home will be the first thing a buyer will notice, particularly if it’s dramatically different from the neighbors’ houses. This might work if it’s a contrast but with a color you normally see on houses like white or gray. However, if you have a bright pink or purple or yellow house, it might stand out and look unique, but it’s going to greatly decrease the property value.
6. Outdated kitchens and bathrooms
These two rooms are the most important when it comes to functions in the house. So make sure all of the plumbing is in excellent working order. And do what you can to make these two rooms look as fresh and as modern as possible.
While many things that cause property value to increase or decrease are out of your control, you should always do everything you can that is in your control to help protect the value of your home.