Woman upset at home

Don’t Let These 14 Things Lower Your Home Value

There are several factors that can potentially decrease the value of your home. This could lead to slower price appreciation and lower selling prices when you decide to sell. Below, we will take a look at things that could have a negative impact on the value of your home.

Things that Will Lower Your Home Value

Weird Layout

One factor that can potentially lower the value of your home is an unconventional layout. This might be due to a small kitchen, the lack of a dining room, or the need to walk through one room to access another. Unusual layouts are often a result of previous homeowner remodels or additions. 

Whether you’re buying a home or planning a renovation, look for unusual layouts that could potentially decrease its value.

Things that will Lower Your Home Value

Not Enough Bathrooms

Not having enough bathrooms in your home can lower its value. When the number of bedrooms far exceeds the number of bathrooms, it can be a red flag for potential buyers. 

Sometimes, you might be limited by the capacity of your septic tank, which can restrict the number of bathrooms you can have. This shortage of bathrooms could end up devaluing your home.

Bathroom with no Baths

Homes can lose value if they lack a bathtub in the bathroom. In today’s housing market, many homeowners are replacing bathtubs with shower stalls, but this is a bad idea because it can negatively impact the value of the home. 

Potential buyers often prefer homes with complete bathrooms, which should include a bathtub. A bathroom without a bathtub, even if there is a shower stall, is not a complete bathroom and can devalue your home.

Dated Bathrooms and Kitchen

One thing that can easily devalue your home is if you have dated bathrooms and kitchens. For example, bathrooms with pink tiles and tubs are not appealing to modern home buyers. Similarly, an outdated kitchen can easily devalue your property.  

These days, home buyers will consider the costs of updating the kitchen and bathrooms as well as the hassle of the renovation. Older kitchens and bathrooms will definitely lower your home value.

Clutter

Excessive clutter can easily devalue your home and turn off potential buyers. When people view your home, they won’t be able to appreciate its beauty if it’s filled with clutter. 

This is especially true for your listing photos. It’s important to ensure that your home doesn’t look cluttered in the photos since this can definitely turn off potential buyers. They will end up skipping your home altogether and not even consider scheduling a viewing appointment.

Poor Condition Flooring

Having damaged or stained flooring can significantly decrease the value of your home. Prospective buyers are often put off by carpets with noticeable stains, since it can make the home appear poorly maintained. Similarly, wood floors that are in bad condition or have visible damage can also detract from the overall appeal of the home. 

When selling your home, it’s important to ensure that your flooring is well-maintained and in good condition otherwise, it will negatively impact your home price.

Things that will Lower Your Home Value

Registered Sex Offender Neighbor

One thing that can devalue your home is if it is near a registered sex offender. These days, home buyers will search the National Sex Offender Public Website to see if there are any sex offenders living near the home they are interested in buying or in the same neighborhood. This information can significantly impact their decision making process when it comes to buying a home. 

Natural Disaster

Living in an area that has experienced a natural disaster can potentially lower the value of your home. For example, if your home has been impacted by severe flooding or other natural disasters, it can have a negative effect on the value of your property.

Too Noisy

Living close to noisy environments such as airports, train stations, restaurants, and bars can significantly negatively impact the value of your home. Excessive noise pollution is a factor that potential buyers and appraisers consider when assessing property value. That’s why it’s important to be mindful of the surrounding noise levels when you are buying a home.

Swimming Pool

Owning a swimming pool may seem appealing, but it can actually negatively impact the value of your home. For many potential buyers, the idea of owning a pool can be daunting due to the high costs associated with maintenance and upkeep. 

Also, having a pool can limit the number of interested buyers since some may be put off by the maintenance responsibilities and potential safety concerns. It’s important to carefully consider the implications of installing a pool before making that decision.

No Garage

If you live in a place where there is snow in the winter, a garage is essential. Not having one can be a deal-breaker and will definitely reduce the value of your home. 

Non-Existent Backyard

Some home buyers will only buy homes with decent-sized backyards. If your home has a very small backyard or is unusable because it backs into rocks, it can turn off buyers and lower your home value.

High HOA Fee

Having a really high Homeowner’s Association fee can bring down the value of your home. A lot of potential buyers might think twice about buying a home in your neighborhood because of the high HOA fee. As a result, the home prices in your community won’t go up as much as in homes with lower HOA fees.

High Property Taxes

Just like high HOA fees, having steep property taxes can drag down your home’s value. Buyers might pass up your town because of the high taxes and only look at places with lower property tax rates. The high property tax will also result in slower home price appreciation. Check out 13 Eyesores Home Sellers Should Get Rid of Immediately

Budget Home Renovations to Make Your Home Look Expensive

7 Not So Obvious Tips to Sell Your Home Fast

10 Common Home Selling Mistakes to Avoid (free home selling checklists)

9 Housing Expenses that are Slowly Crushing Homeowners

20 Most Affordable Beach Towns in Florida

Sharing is caring!

Scroll to Top