From A Woman's Perspective: February 22nd, 2025 "The Top Renovations I would not do before selling my house"

The Top Renovations I would not do before selling my house:

Not all renovations are created equal; at least not as far as your buyer is concerned. It’s their opinion that matters when it’s time to sell, so I always recommend my clients steer away from the following renovations:

1. Design choices that are too trendy, too bold or too personal:

Your end goal is to make your home as broadly appealing as possible. Wallpapered accent walls, or strongly grained stone countertops, or colour-washed rooms are just as likely to turn off prospective buyers as they are to attract them. In all things, moderation. Even if your personal inclination is to get a bit more avant garde, selling your home is not the time to display your colourful personality. 

2. Luxury materials or customization that exceed the overall price point of the home:

It is possible to over-renovate a property. Consider the neighbourhood, property type and selling price before installing luxury hardwood or high-end custom bathrooms. There is a very real danger that you won’t get the return on your investment if the renovations cost so much that you have priced yourself out of the market. 

3. Full Kitchen remodels: If moving walls or changing the layout of your kitchen is part of renovation plans, I caution against laying out the tens of thousands of dollars with the expectation of recouping your costs. Buyers always seem to underestimate the cost of what you’ve done, and may not fully appreciate the changes you made. 
4. Converting bedrooms into specialty use rooms: Turning a bedroom into a home office, gym, or custom closet can limit the home’s appeal. Buyers usually prefer spaces they can customize themselves. I usually recommend keeping bedrooms as bedrooms for resale purposes, and allocating these specialty rooms to the basement if possible. 
5. High-tech smart home upgrades (HVAC): In a world where full home automation is now possible, your smart phone can control virtually every aspect of your smart home: light switches, window blinds, appliances, vacuums, thermostats and door bells. These can be a costly investment that brings convenience but not necessarily added resale value. Be careful.
6. A special note reminding our listeners once again to never lease their furnace and air conditioning equipment. If you need to replace these, it is far better to finance the cost through your bank, rather than sign a service agreement with your gas company. The buy-outs of these contracts can be thousands of dollars!

So what should downsizers consider doing to improve their properties prior to selling?

• Focus on small, high-impact improvements like fresh paint, deep cleaning, decluttering and basic repairs;
• Fix major issues that could be a red-flag to buyers: a leaky roof, safety hazards, or a damp basement, for example.
• Improve curb appeal with a basic clean up, simple landscaping and an inviting entrance. 

A well-maintained, clean and decluttered home is the most important three goals any home seller can achieve. So skip the waterfall quartz counters, the rose gold bathroom faucets, and the top-of-the-line stove imported from Italy. Stick to moderate home improvements that will provide a good return on your investment.

If you’re wondering what to do to your home in preparation for a sale one day, I have three suggestions:

• Attend our next Wednesday Webinar, “The Best Renovations for Return on Investment” on Wed. February 26th at 4:00 pm. The link to register is on our website, smartrealtysolution.com
• Request your copy of the accompanying workbook, “The Best Renovations for Return on Investment” also available on our website, smartrealtysolution.com or by calling me, Sharon, at 416-460-5636.
• Book your no-cost, no-obligation downsizing consultation. This is a 30-minute in-person or virtual meeting where we discuss your specific questions and create an action plan. You can contact me at, you guessed it! 416-460-5636.

Save yourself time, effort and money by making your SMART home improvements. My name is Sharon Parenteau and these have been your SMART realty solutions for today.

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