5 Home Improvements That May Not Pay Off When You Sell

Many home improvements add value, but others can actually hurt it. So think hard before you put time and money into these projects:
1. A chef-quality kitchen An upscale kitchen renovation recoups just 54% of its cost in added value.
2. DIY painting Streaky, chipped or low-quality paint can knock $1,700 off a home’s sale price.
3. An expanded master[a] suite If your home has four or five bedrooms, losing one might pay off. But losing a bedroom in a smaller house could lower your selling price.
4. Wall-to-wall carpeting Carpet as the primary flooring in a house drops the value by $3,900 – and carpeting in the master bedroom causes a $3,800 plunge.
5. A swimming pool Any pool can be seen as a drawback by buyers who don’t want to deal with maintenance or insurance.
SOURCES: The News & Advance, Lynchburg, VA; Opendoor; Remodeling magazine