10 cash-wasting home improvements

You may be itching to upgrade, but only one of these is likely to raise your home's value enough to cover the cost. The worst will lose more than half the money you put into it.

Jason Notte, TheStreet.com

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Andrew Benvenuti (CharmingGuy921)
Sep 8, 2012 9:58AM
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This article is ridiculous. Remodeling a home isn't only about "how much can  I get for it when I sell it". Some people's homes last generations, and are not to be sold, but to be kept up and in good shape so that current and future generations have a comfortable place to live. This whole article is based on remodeling a home simply for the resale vaule.
stilldontknow
Sep 8, 2012 9:57AM
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Where the hell did they get these price$ from . Id be ashamed to charge like that!!
Joe Upton
Sep 8, 2012 9:56AM
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I have been in the building trades for years I am 53 tears old and I have found out that anyone who deals with Lome's or Homedepot are just throwing there money away because they are just middle men if you go directly to the remodeler you will save about 50 to 75% so get the Lowe's or Homedepot price and then call up the other guy and you will see for yourself.
Tuggenova
Sep 8, 2012 9:54AM
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Who makes these kind of improvements with the intent to sell?  NO ONE.  This article assumes that we're going to change our roof that doesn't leak with a brand new roof only to turn around and sell the house.  I'd say nearly all of these improvements are done by people that are planting roots in their house to make it a home.  They don't plan on leaving soon, so why put a financial estimate on priceless memories (pool, outdoor bbq, having your own bathroom so you don't compete with kids . . .)
Big Tujunga
Sep 8, 2012 9:54AM
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Supposedly we live only once .......so live it ....the best you can afford.........spend​ wisely but enjoy.
kurt Simerman (kurt013)
Sep 8, 2012 9:51AM
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If you only plan to be in one house for a few years this might apply, but if you bought your house to LIVE IN, then have it the way you want it, within your budget restraints.  Been in our house 25 years, hoping for another 25, don't care how much the improvements cost or how much they've added to the value of the house.
jersey contractor
Sep 8, 2012 9:41AM
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Who put a value on these improvements.I have been a contractor for thirty five years and at half your estimated cost I would have been retired ten years ago.Use some real facts when you write an article
Beverly Luciano
Sep 8, 2012 9:38AM
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I live in New York, these are minimal costs we have to put up with to keep properties updated for

selling or living in. Consumers are looking  for high-end  and pricey remodels.   Not to mention

outdoor living spaces with kitchens and   custom  pools. As soon as our kids have graduated I hope

to get out of this greedy neighborhood where taxes are through the roof.......

Paul Broussard (Noweareman)
Sep 8, 2012 9:37AM
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Where did these cost estimates come from "Contractors to the Rich and Famous?"
JohnnieD
Sep 8, 2012 9:34AM
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you sound like my relatives: "don't do this. Market's going down, it won't have much value"

 

errr excuse me I built to fill MY need, to live in, not to sell

Independent Stevo
Sep 8, 2012 9:32AM
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Where the hell do they get these numbers?  I looked into adding a back up generator for my house (we lose power pretty regularly in the winter).  The generator itself (runs on LP or natural gas) cost $5000, and if I paid an electrician to set up the system (I would actually do it myself) add another $2500.  That is around $7500.  1/2 of what they say it would cost.  All the costs they list are ridiculous and are only for those living in the highest cost of living areas of the country.  95% of the rest of the country can expect more reasonable costs.

I like my house.  I'm planning on being here for many many years, and I want to enjoy living in it.  So any improvements I make are for my enjoyment.  I could care less if I get my money back when I sell the house in 20 years.  If I spend $10,000 adding a bathroom to the house, and live here 15 years, I will get my monies worth out of that bathroom.  Recouping the cost of home improvements is a Realtor thing... they only look at improvements in the context of selling the house.  If you are only making improvements to sell the house, then it is fine to look at them in that light.  But if you are planning on living in your home for a while, to hell with whether the improvements pay for themselves when you do decide to sell.  
thestuntboy
Sep 8, 2012 9:25AM
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What happens in the North during the winter when the power goes out?  I guess heat is a luxury item too, We have lost power twice for more than 5 days in the past three years and our generator worked overtime.
Samafur
Sep 8, 2012 9:22AM
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I had a 4 bedroom house until I turned a 10'x13 bedroom into a bathroom and turned the 6'x6' bathroom into a closet.  I am sure some people would say that was dumb but I enjoy my house much more now.  And I agree that every single $ number in the article is crazy.  Home Depot wanted $18k for a new roof but I got it done for $4k by a known local company and I watched the whole thing and it was done correctly.  For what I paid for the house, the 50% more I put into it and the downturn in the economy I do have a value problem but what I don't have is home I don't like coming home to. 
TallShip
Sep 8, 2012 9:17AM
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How in the world could you spend $40,000 on a half bath. If that is the best research someone can find, then they are not qualified to write the article. Even if they are quoting someone or some organization, they should have found a better source. This article is a very poor space filler.
slinger black (slinger black)
Sep 8, 2012 9:16AM
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I agree...this isnt realistic at ALL......maybe why this is exactly why I live in rural PA?....I had a 24x40 garage added onto my home for under 10 grand.  Our pool we paid 5000 grand for in 2003. and have enjoyed every second of it.....in ground..NO...not worth it...but for 5000 grand investment and a couple hundred dollars a season.....its worth it to us.....NOt everyone has central air!....and if the next owner wants to push it over into pile and plant new grass...have at it
loveneverfails
Sep 8, 2012 9:13AM
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Where do you get your facts and percentages and statistics? We just got done buying a home and the holmes with the best appeal were ones with a 2 car garage, sunroom, pool, backup generators and such. These statistics are groslly inaccurate and misrepresented! Although some of them may be true. I don't like this article even just from my own personal experience. Sunrooms are becoming more popular and everyone loves an inground pool, as well as having a garage well sometime that is a dealbreaker for people if the house does not have one. I know if the house we were looking for didn't have one we would have said no. We got one with a 3 car heated garage and workshop. Gdobless
Mr. Anthrope
Sep 8, 2012 8:57AM
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I agree with many of the comments saying the prices shown here are through the roof.  People who write these articles must think that everyone lives in New York, Los Angeles, or some other huge urban center where these prices may be realistic.  Believe it or not, there are a lot of people in this country who live in small cities or towns, or even in rural areas.  Whether or not these improvements are worth it or not depends on the individual and their personal balance of wants or needs vs. income. 

 

In central Wyoming where I live, a garage is important if you don't want to scrape ice and snow off your car every morning in the winter.  A garage also helps protect your vehicles from sun deterioration.  Winters here are long and cold.  I'm glad the house I own already had a sunroom built onto it, because I probably would have added one if it wasn't already here.  In the winter, the sunlight helps warm the rest of the house, and you can grow plants inside and at least see the sun even if it is too cold to be outside.

ltsMe
Sep 8, 2012 8:56AM
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These prices are way high, I don't know where they are getting these prices from.

Remodling is always a good move if that's what you want. The thing about it is that it's your house and if you have the money and it makes you feel good about how you live then by all means do it. I will agree if you're selling the home then DON'T spend the money to fix it the way you want it. Let the buyer fix it the way they want it.

evanrae
Sep 8, 2012 8:45AM
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basicly you are telling  me nothing you do to your home will help. The outragouse prices you are telling people must be coming from chicago,new york or the entire state of california  
groovygirl72
Sep 8, 2012 8:31AM
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I had a real estate sales man out a bout 2yrs. ago. I was told it wont matter how much money is pupmed into the home it will never be worth more.
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