12 Ways Too Much Home Maintenance Can Lower Your Property Value

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You probably know how important it is to keep a home well maintained; no one’s going to want to live in a house that seems like it’s going to collapse. However, and it may sound crazy, but going overboard with maintenance sometimes could really hurt your property value more than helping it. There’s such a thing as trying too hard, whether it’s over polishing the floors so the floors look like a skating rink or putting in overly complicated systems that only a tech genius could manage.

If you’re constantly pouring time and money into constant upgrades and pristine upkeep, you might not realize that you’re turning your property into a money pit—or worse, making it less appealing to future buyers. Let’s take a closer look at how good intentions to maintain your infrastructure can sometimes result in diminishing returns.

Over-Customization

It seems that adding personal touches to your home makes it feel, well, more like home. However, when those touches go too far, like transforming your backyard into a mini Versailles or constructing a recording studio in your basement, it restricts who, exactly, wants to buy your palace. Neutrals are the most popular because it allows people to place their own life in a house.

Overloading the Landscape

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It may be that lush gardens and intricate landscaping look impressive, but they can also scream high maintenance to potential buyers. Not everyone wants to spend their weekends pruning topiary or worrying about an irrigation system that is comparable to a municipal water plant. A simple, low maintenance lawn is sometimes all it takes to please a home buyer.

Obsolete Tech Upgrades

While there’s a lot of talk about smart home systems, overly complex or out of date ones are a turn off. If you’ve installed a ‘smart’ system in the early 2010s, and it looks like it came from a museum, you may be scaring off buyers who don’t want to spend thousands on replacements.

Excessive Add-Ons

You might dream of a wine cellar, a gym or an outdoor kitchen, but they will alienate buyers who don’t share your passions. These spaces also require higher property taxes and maintenance fees, and someone who views them as unnecessary extras isn’t likely to want them.

Too Much Shine

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A clean and polished home is essential, but there is such a thing as overdoing it. Every surface can be finished with a high gloss, but it can be too clinical and not cozy. “When I touch anything, will I leave fingerprints?” the buyers might think. It’s all about balancing clean with lived in.

Constant Remodeling

Updating your home every so often to be in trend can backfire. Someone house hunting today might already consider kitchens that look like something out of a 2020 Instagram reel already outdated. Too many updates can leave your home feeling somewhat patched up with no overall design.

Expensive Materials

Stone Countertops (Marble, Granite) — Image Credit: Mgattorna/Pixabay

Using costly materials such as marble in every countertop and hardwood flooring throughout every room can scare off people looking to buy a home who view yours as overpriced. Buyers might love a house, but hate paying a premium for features they don’t care about.

Over-Insulation

Unrecognizable worker insulating with stone wool — Photo Credit: Erik Mclean/Pexels

If you seal your home too well, you can create moisture and ventilation problems. You might think this is crazy—doesn’t everyone want lower energy bills? If you do too much, though, it creates a stuffy environment and can even lead to mold growth, making your efficient home a liability.

Unnecessary Luxury Fixtures

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To you, it might be gold plated faucets or crystal chandeliers in every room, but to others, it’s too much. Features like these can make buyers think you’re charging them for opulence, not functionality.

Overbuilt Garages

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While it makes sense to turn your garage into an enormous multi purpose space, this can actually detract from the charm of your home. Some just want a clean parking spot to get their car in without feeling like they’re walking into a car dealership showroom.

Overthinking the Deck

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A large deck can certainly increase the value of the home, but too much detail such as a multi level platform with intricate woodwork or a built in hot tub can detract from the feeling of relaxation and add to clutter in the backyard. People looking to buy a home might wonder about upkeep or possible structural issues they didn’t see.

Too Many High-End Appliances

It’s tempting to have a professional grade kitchen, but not everyone wants to cook on a range better suited to a Michelin starred restaurant. Additionally, high end appliances can be costly to repair and replace, making your home less desirable down the line.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.