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Top 10 Renovations That Cost More Than They Are Worth

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There are many renovations that cost more than they are worth when it comes time to put
your house on the market. Home upgrades come in many different shapes and sizes. While
everyone has their ideas of what will increase their home’s value, there are several
renovations to steer clear of.

Going Overboard

Before you consider remodeling anything in your home, get a general idea of what other
houses in your neighborhood are doing. This will have an impact on your appraisal value. Be
cautious of going overboard with renovations, as this may prove to be a waste of time and
money in the end. (An appraiser calls this “over-improvement” for the market.)

Designs and Fixtures

Prior to implementing new designs and fixtures in your home, ensure these things will flow
well for the buyer that will be walking through. Do the new designs and fixtures make sense
to the rest of the home’s style?

Landscaping

When an appraiser is performing a market analysis, he or she must be able to prove that a
typical buyer will pay more for these renovations, like upgraded landscaping. Fountains,
rock walls, and intricate landscape patterns will indeed enhance the beauty of your yard,
but these things won’t lure buyers to pay extra for them. Buyers may see maintenance,
watering and weeding in what you see as beauty.

SheetrockPaint brush against a wall

A renovation that certainly costs more than it is worth is hanging new sheetrock. This is not
necessary. Consider a cheaper alternative by patching your current sheetrock and putting a fresh coat of paint on it.

High-End Upgrades

A lot of times, high-end upgrades are personal preference items. These include things such
as:

  • Swimming pool
  • Sauna
  • Steam shower
  • Heated floors
  • Sound systems

Keep in mind what a typical buyer will be looking for and expecting in your market. These
items take a large chunk from your budget and do not contribute enough value to your
home’s resale price. Steer clear of this renovation that costs more than it is worth.

New Flooring

Although you should ensure your floors are in good shape and do not show any signs of
damage, totally replacing them is a renovation that could cost more than it is worth.
Consider having your carpets or hardwood floors professionally cleaned. This process will be
much more worth your time.Person laying hardwood at home

New Front Door

A renovation that certainly costs more than it is worth is replacing the front door. Curb
appeal is a factor in the appraisal value, however there are much more cost effective
methods to improving this area. Simply clean up the front area of your home. Pressure wash
the area or simply add a new coat of paint.

Upgrading Electrical Systems

Upgrading your electrical systems is another renovation that certainly costs more than it is
worth. If you do not have a current problem with your electrical system, do not touch it.

Kitchen and Bathroom Renovations

While the kitchen and bathroom are the two rooms in which home renovations have the
most impact, it is important to not go overboard. You can freshen up your space without
replacing everything. Incorporate a new paint color, change out your fixtures, faucets, and
lighting. These minor upgrades will give your rooms a completely different look without
gutting everything and starting fresh.

Floor Plan Alterations

When considering home renovations, steer clear of making floor plan alterations. It is never
wise to take rooms away. Often times, a homeowner will take two smaller bedrooms and make one larger bedroom. However, this often results in an odd floor plan, which is not
appealing to buyers.

Definitive Valuations is here to help you determine what a renovation project will actually
add in value to your house before you get started. Contact us today!

Definitive Valuations is North Alabama’s premiere appraisal firm. Our mission is to provide
superior valuation and consulting services in Huntsville, Alabama, and surrounding areas.
Our staff strives to understand your needs and to provide the best solution for your
situation – whether for financial planning, relocation, tax dispute, legal matters, pre-listing,
or any other purposes. Discover more here.

The Importance of Previous Purchases to Appraisers

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How much weight do appraisers put toward previous purchases when completing a home
appraisal? Often times, looking at the past can help us understand the present. It’s
important to consider the factors that impact a previous purchase in the ever-changing
market of real estate.

An appraiser is required to analyze and report the past 36 months of transfers of the subject
property. Analysis of a prior sale can be normal and even mandatory in the appraisal
process.

If a property sold at a reasonable price, an appraiser could give strong weight to that sale. In
this scenario, an appraiser will take a closer look at exactly how the market and property
have changed since the sale.

On the other hand, a previous purchase could be considered meaningless if a property sold
for too little or too much in the past. In this case, an appraiser will not give real value weight
to this type of purchase.Outside of two-story home

When the Previous Purchase Means Less

Trustees Sale

This type of sale tends to go for a discount. Properties are typically not in great condition in
this scenario.

Fixer-Upper

If a home was in need of significant work, it most likely sold at a lower price. Chances are,
the home received major upgrades since the previous purchase. In this case, the previous
purchase value means less.

Family Discount

If a home was sold between family members, it is likely the previous purchase price will not
be a reliable source of information for today’s market. These types of sales often include a
discount to the actual value.Living room and kitchen of home

Factors to Consider

Timing

Before giving weight to a previous sale, an appraiser will assess whether it was a reasonable
representation of value at the time.

Context

Often times, a previous purchase is an incredible way to understand how a property fits into
the market. If a subject property has competed at approximately the same price position
within the previous three sales, an appraiser will likely give strong weight to those previous
sales. This helps one understand value for that particular property.

Adjustments

A prior sale can help determine how much the value should adjust for certain features of
the property. Is the home located on a busy street? A previous sale gives insight into
whether this was a big deal or not compared to surrounding neighborhood sales. This
research is effective insight into seeing what buyers have been previously willing to pay for.

Current Market

An appraiser will be objective by giving the most weight to the current market. You should
not get stuck on the previous purchase price and forget about the current market. Values
could have increased or softened since that previous purchase. The market could be
different today due to things such as:

  • Change in zoning
  • Change in buyer demand
  • Gentrification

No matter the previous purchase price, it is important to compare that to today’s market.

Previous purchases help appraisers to uncover how any recent improvements or changes
impact the overall value of the property. However, no matter the history of the property,
it’s important to consider all factors that impact the overall value in the ever-changing
market of real estate.

 

Definitive Valuations is North Alabama’s premiere appraisal firm. Our mission is to provide
superior valuation and consulting services in Huntsville, Alabama, and surrounding areas.
Our staff strives to understand your needs and to provide the best solution for your
situation – whether for financial planning, relocation, tax dispute, legal matters, pre-listing,
or any other purposes. Discover more here.

Inside Out or Outside In? The Best Methods for Appraisal Inspections

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When it comes to the best method for appraisal inspections, it actually comes down to
personal preference. An appraiser will determine the process that works best for them –
whether that is working from the inside out, or the outside in.

While there is no set rule when it comes to the best method for appraisal inspections, the
popular choice is going from the outside in, meaning an appraiser will measure the outside
of the property first, and then move inside. Let’s look at the least popular method first.

The Inside-Out Method

One key benefit to the inside-out method of home appraisals is that the appraiser only has
to knock on the front door once. Additionally, the appraiser can interview the homeowner
first so they can look for items on the outside of the home that was mentioned when they
get outside, such as sprinkler systems, a well, septic systems, and more.

Those appraisers who work in crazier weather tend to favor this approach because they can
avoid bringing dirt into the home. Once the interior part of the appraisal is done, the outside
work can be taken care of next. living room of a home

The Outside-In Method

The best part of the Outside-In method is that the appraiser can start with a wide footprint
of the property beforehand. An appraiser can determine the amenities on the outside,
survey the exterior, then ask questions about his or her findings when they move to the
interior of the home. Additionally, an appraiser can double check measurements from the
inside.

The downside to implementing this method in your appraising techniques is that it is more
time-consuming and requires the homeowner to come to the door twice. However, this
approach is most popular with appraisers because it can be more difficult to complete the
sketch without the footprint first.

 

Definitive Valuations is North Alabama’s premiere appraisal firm. Our mission is to provide
superior valuation and consulting services in Huntsville, Alabama, and surrounding areas.
Our staff strives to understand your needs and to provide the best solution for your
situation – whether for financial planning, relocation, tax dispute, legal matters, pre-listing,
or any other purposes. Discover more here.

How to Prepare for a Home Appraisal

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The best thing a homeowner can do to prepare for a home appraisal is to ensure an appraiser has easy access to the exterior and interior of the home.

The first step in most appraisals is the property inspection. An appraiser will record the layout of the rooms, take photos, and document the general condition of the home. The appraiser provides a professional, unbiased determination of market value to be used in real estate transactions.

When you prepare for a home appraisal, the process does not have to be complicated. Consider these tips, but don’t become overwhelmed. Do as much as you can, and if you can’t do anything except let the appraiser in, then just do that and don’t sweat it!

Clean up the clutter.

Clean your home up on the inside and outside. Because the first step of the appraisal is property inspection, it is beneficial (though not necessary) to trim any bushes and relocate items that would make it difficult for an appraiser to measure the structure. Ensure an appraiser will have easy access to items such as furnaces and water heaters.

Enhance your home’s curb appeal by maintaining the landscape. Consider these simple tips to boost your appraisal value.Lawn mower

  • Mow the lawn
  • Mulch flower beds
  • Put a fresh coat of paint on the door
  • Pressure wash the curb, porch, and driveway

Another simple tip to prepare for a home appraisal is to turn on the lights in your home. This makes it easier for the appraiser to walk through and see everything.

Make minor fixes.

A great way to prepare for a home appraisal is by walking through your home to see if you
find any noticeable issues. Do you have rotted wood or rusted gutters? These are quick-fix
items that require minor updating.

Additional items that could require minor fixes include:

  • Heating and cooling systems are serviced and in functional condition
  • Appliances are operational and well-maintained
  • Leaks are patched
  • Broken windows are replaced
  • Cracks in the walls are patched and painted

It is important to remember that the current condition and functionality of the home is
more important to the appraiser than the age of the home.

Compile a list of previous home renovations.

If your home has undergone previous home renovations, compile a list of those things and
make it available to the appraiser. Your appraiser may or may not want to see all the details,
below, but at least having a list of what has been done will be welcomed by all appraisers!
You can opt to pull a folder together and include:

  • Receipts
  • Before and after photos of renovations
  • Taxation details
  • Permits

floor plans of homeAn appraiser is primarily looking at the condition of your home. This is one of the primary
things that helps to determine where your house will place in the market. Any maintenance
or renovation item is important information for the appraiser to have.

When an appraiser visits your home, he or she will take notes of everything that is part of
the property. An appraiser will assess the condition of your home and how well it has been
maintained. The process does not have to be stressful. Consider these tips to best prepare
for a home appraisal!

Definitive Valuations is North Alabama’s premiere appraisal firm. Our mission is to provide
superior valuation and consulting services in Huntsville, Alabama, and surrounding areas.
Our staff strives to understand your needs and to provide the best solution for your
situation – whether for financial planning, relocation, tax dispute, legal matters, pre-listing,
or any other purposes. Discover more here.