6 Home Renovations That May Hurt Your Home’s Selling Price

Adding a pool
In some neighborhoods in warm states such as Florida, Hawaii, Arizona, and California, pools are expected, and adding a pool to homes in those neighborhoods are a welcome addition. However, in states with cooler climates where pools have to be cleaned, opened and closed every season, a pool may be seen as more of an expensive hassle than an asset.

No permit, no renovations
Nearly every municipality requires permits for major (and sometimes minor) renovations. That’s partly to ensure that all home improvements are up to code. Savvy buyers will ask whether renovations were done with permits (requesting copies of them is a good idea), and some cities require inspections before homes are sold. Buying a home with un-permitted work can cost later if the city requires the work to be torn out and redone or levies a fine.

To compare average cost for popular remodeling projects with the value those projects retain at resale in U.S. markets, read the 2015 Remodeling magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report.