3 Features Of Your Home That May Decrease Its Value

While most people aim to buy their house for the cheapest possible price, everyone also seeks to sell their home quickly and for the biggest possible profit. However, the things that may have allowed you to get your home for a smaller purchasing price will also be what could give you some trouble when you try to sell that same home for top dollar in the future.

To help you make the right changes to your home before you put it on the market, here are three features you may have in your home that could decrease its value.

Your Unique Touches

Once you move into your new home, it’s natural to want to add some finishing touches that will really showcase your personality. However, while the things you did to your home may help you feel more comfortable there, these unique touches could be a big turn off for future buyers.

Knowing this, Amanda Prischak, a contributor to the Family Handyman, recommends that you try to get rid of anything that has too much of your unique personality before you attempt to sell your home. This means choosing more neutral wallpaper or paint colors as well as replacing any fixtures that may not appeal to a mass audience.

A Lack Of Curb Appeal

It’s not just what’s going on inside of your home that can cause the value of your property to decrease.

According to Jessika Toothman, a contributor to How Stuff Works, the curb appeal of your home and property can also cause the value of your home to fall short of what it otherwise could. Things like having an unkempt yard or a poorly painted house can tank your home’s value, even if everything else might be in good condition. Additionally, if the homes around you are lacking in curb appeal, this could affect the value of your home as well, so take this in consideration when you initially purchase your home.

Your Swimming Pool Or Water Features

While many people might think that having a swimming pool or a beautiful water feature on their property would automatically be a boost in the value of their home, this isn’t always the case. In fact, in some instances, this could actually hurt the value of your home rather than helping it.

The reasoning behind this, according to Katie Avis-Riordan, a contributor to HouseBeautiful.com, is because having these features means that you have to pay to maintain them, which isn’t something every homeowner will want. Along with this, the potential hazard that a water feature or pool could bring to homeowners with kids may also cause them to devalue these things.

If you’re wanting to get your home in the best possible condition before you put it on the market, consider making some of the changes mentioned above to reduce your chances of devaluing your home.