12 Home Renovations That Could Hurt Your Resale Value

Thinking about upgrading your home before you sell? 🤔 Some projects may actually hurt your bottom line. While renovations can improve your enjoyment of your home, they don’t always boost your home’s resale value—especially in competitive markets like Colorado Springs.

According to, US News and World Reports here are 12 home improvements that often don’t pay off when it comes time to sell:

1. Too much wallpaper – Trends fade, and removal is a hassle.

2. Built-in electronics – Tech becomes obsolete fast.

3. Wall-to-wall carpeting – Buyers often prefer hardwood.

4. Swimming pools – High cost and maintenance, with limited ROI.

5. Garage conversions – Most buyers want a garage to park in.

6. DIY projects – Unless professionally done, they may deter buyers.

7. Bold paint colors – Stick to neutrals for wider appeal.

8. Sunrooms – Expensive and often not counted in square footage.

9. Textured walls/ceilings – Costly to remove and may include asbestos.

10. Overdone landscaping – Too much maintenance for some buyers.

11. Outdoor fire features – Cost rarely recovered in resale.

12. Landscape lighting – Pretty, but low return.

🔎 What to do instead? Focus on improvements with higher return—like refinishing hardwood floors, replacing old appliances, or updating fixtures with timeless finishes. And always consider quality of life improvements that matter to you, even if they don’t boost value.

💡 Thinking about selling or renovating? Let’s talk about what’s smart for your situation. I’d be honored to offer insight based on what buyers are valuing most right now in Colorado Springs.

📲 www.NicoleStromRealtor.com