subject: Things That Hurt Home Appraisals [print this page] When preparing for home appraisals, not every feature in your home will actually add value to it. In fact, a few features will take away from the value of home appraisals. Learning how to spot and change these features can save you lots of money in the long run by adding value to your home.
Pools
Contrary to what many people believe, a pool actually hurts the value of a home more often than not. In-ground pools are permanent features (or can be very expensive to fill in), so that limits the buyers the house can be marketed to. Not everyone is looking for a pool. Above-ground pools can be more easily removed, but still represent a substantial cost for renovation, especially if attached to a deck. Both pools add significant cost to the value of the home.
Location
Theres little you can do about this feature, so it can severely limit a home. The oldest rule in real estate: location, location, location. Everything is location. No matter how beautiful a home, if it is located near a wastewater processing plant, it will never increase in value by much.
No Garage
Almost all buyers are looking for garages at home. The advantages of having a garage almost make them a requirement in homes, both for vehicle storage and miscellaneous storage. Garages can be very expensive additions to a home, so if it is out of your price range, then attaching a carport to the house might be another option.
Old Appliances
Old appliances make any home lookold. Even if these are not coming with the house, they are often figured into some home appraisals, so upgrading those old refrigerators and stoves works for everyone. Save some money in this category by buying gently used appliances or just keep an eye on sales. Sometimes delivery and installation is included with the price, making it a painless addition.
Lists of Little Repairs
The last thing a potential buyer wants when moving into a new home is more chores to do. When you present the home for inspection, home appraisals or even open houses, the last thing a buyer wants to deal with is fifty small repairs that need to be made. Small things like new faucets, peeling paint, torn screens, faded carpeting and other easy fixes can make a difference in home value, although they are easy to solve. Get that laundry list of chores done before putting the house on the market.
