{"id":21165,"date":"2026-06-08T04:19:12","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T11:19:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=21165"},"modified":"2026-06-12T15:14:59","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T22:14:59","slug":"home-improvements-that-do-not-add-value","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/home-improvements-that-do-not-add-value\/","title":{"rendered":"Remodeling? Avoid These 10 Home Improvements That Do Not Add Value"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most homeowners think a better-looking home automatically means a more valuable one. But when it comes time to sell<\/a>, the market doesn\u2019t always reward the upgrades<\/a> you expect it to. Some projects are more about personal enjoyment than real return, and that gap can be expensive. Knowing home improvements that don\u2019t add value helps you avoid investing in the wrong places.<\/p>\n

We analyzed return on investment (ROI) data and consulted two top real estate agents to determine which upgrades don\u2019t translate into higher home value. Below, we explain why these popular renovations often fall short of the returns homeowners expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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\n \"homelight\n <\/div>\n \n

Renovating? Check your home value first<\/h3>\n

How much is your home worth today? In as little as two minutes, HomeLight can provide you with a preliminary estimate of value in preparation of your plans to renovate, remodel, or make repairs.<\/p>\n \n

\n Input Address<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n

1. DIY home improvement projects<\/h2>\n

While it might be tempting to spruce up your space with DIY projects like a faux fireplace or hand-painted cabinets, don\u2019t expect these upgrades to add value to your home. According to top-selling Atlanta, GA, agent<\/a> Madalyn Suits<\/a>, buyers notice DIY projects from a mile away, for all of the wrong reasons.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe use the phrase \u2018lipstick on a pig\u2019 a lot. When people try to put their hands on everything, it shows that someone tried to make it look good. Buyers might begin to think, \u2018Did they do everything<\/em> themselves?\u2019\u201d she shares.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Not all renovations are worth the cost. Avoid these home improvements that don\u2019t add value so you can invest your money where it matters most.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":232,"featured_media":21167,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[320,333],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21165","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-add-value","category-increase-value"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n10 Home Improvements That Do Not Add Value, According to Top Agents<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Not all renovations are worth the cost. 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Avoid these home improvements that don\u2019t add value so you can invest your money where it matters most.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/home-improvements-that-do-not-add-value\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"HomeLight Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gohomelight\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-06-08T11:19:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-12T22:14:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/home-improvements-that-do-not-add-value-e1780922029421.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"563\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Mikayla Uber\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@gohomelight\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@gohomelight\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Mikayla Uber\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":[\"Article\",\"BlogPosting\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.homelight.com\\\/blog\\\/home-improvements-that-do-not-add-value\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.homelight.com\\\/blog\\\/home-improvements-that-do-not-add-value\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Mikayla Uber\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.homelight.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/d6142b8c7c79bf13fcf49852f5231761\"},\"headline\":\"Remodeling? 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