Home Renovations That Lower the Property Value

Renovations in Dubai's real estate market can significantly boost your property's value. Strategic upgrades like modern kitchens, smart home tech, and luxurious finishes can attract buyers and command higher prices, setting your property apart in Dubai's competitive market.

Here's a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the renovation process and avoid costly mistakes that could decrease your property's value:

Personalisation Pitfalls

It is natural to incorporate your personality into your living space. However, always remember that not everyone may like your style. When selling a house, satisfying as many people as possible is paramount.  

Avoid bright colours, intricate wall patterns, unconventional space arrangements, and overdone themes. These can make it difficult for potential buyers to envision themselves living in the space.

Consider neutral colours, classic designs, and a sense of spaciousness. Create a blank canvas that allows buyers to imagine their furnishings and style within the home.

The Bedroom Dilemma

Transforming the bedrooms into other usable spaces would make a lot of sense when living in the house, but it could prove costly when staging the home for sale.  

Avoid changing sleeping rooms into offices, workstations, workout stations, or vast closets. People are particular about the number of bedrooms they are willing to pay for, and cutting down on that can greatly affect your property’s value.

If you’ve had to convert a bedroom for another use, consider using methods such as curtains or moving furniture within that particular room that can easily be rearranged when selling.

Wallpaper

Wallpaper can impart personality and enhance the aesthetic appeal of any room, but it should be used sparingly.  

Avoid misusing growth patterns, textural wallpapers, or overemphasising themes. These can be overwhelming and might only be easily marketable to some buyers.  

Consider painting the walls a fresh, neutral shade. This will allow buyers to choose according to space without worrying about fixtures getting in the way.

Luxury Upgrades

There’s nothing wrong with installing high-quality fixtures and appliances inside the house, but it must also not be forgotten that not everybody can afford such structures.  

Avoid overemphasising luxuries that may prove costly and not offer good profitability ratios.  

Consider that interior design can be kept simple yet effective by concentrating on areas that need improvements in form and function while avoiding excessive spending. Look for features such as efficient lighting, chandeliers, fully fitted kitchen appliances, and other high-quality finishes that do not warrant extra cost.

The DIY

Repairing, remodelling, or renovating a residence is always a good idea if it involves saving costs and adding personal touches. This is why it is sometimes recommended to do DIY projects, but always within one's ability.  

If you need more training and experience, take on large-scale remodel projects or perform them yourself. However, a well-designed DIY project can prevent buyers from avoiding a place.

Consider major renovations, electrical work, plumbing, and other work that must be done by qualified tradespeople. This ensures the quality of artistry will remain the same and reduces possible problems that may deter buyers.

Messy Garden

A beautiful, well-maintained garden improves the appearance of your home, but it's important to balance aesthetics and practicality.  

Only design a steeped garden or any garden that would prove too troublesome or act as a turn-off to prospective homeowners.  

To minimise upkeep, consider a simpler, low-maintenance garden design. A neat, mowed green belt, well-trimmed shrubs, and beautiful flower plant beds can create a good first impression.

Temporary Storage

Most people need adequate storage space in their homes, so consider whether you are willing to sacrifice valuable storage for an expensive, more airy appearance.  

Avoid disassembling previously installed built-in cupboards, closets, and other storage systems to give the room an open-air look.  

Enhance floor space utilisation with aesthetically pleasing storage solutions like built-in closets, furniture featuring drawers, and pull-out units. This will inspire shoppers to avoid complicated spaces and instead embrace functional and well-ordered living areas.

Home's Exterior Matters

First impressions matter! Since the front view is the first impression home buyers get, you should ensure it looks great.

Avoid losing paint, untidy lawns, untrimmed plants, and hasty building entrances. Some of them can be unhygienically appealing and give a social inference that the property has not been properly maintained.

Invest in a fresh coat of paint for the exterior walls to make the living environment more positive, tidy the garden, and ensure the entrance is clean and inviting. You can also change the space by adding potted plants or flowers.

Outdated Kitchens and Bathrooms

Kitchens and bathrooms are often key selling points for buyers. Concrete features such as flooring, ceilings, walls, and lighting affect a property's overall appearance and reputation, and obsolete fittings can spoil the appearance of your property.

Avoid maintaining old, frayed furniture, aged tiles, and older and worn-out-looking bathroom sets.

Consider updating these major sections of the house: modern lamps, fresh flooring, and appropriate-brand appliances. Even minor changes can profoundly transform a space's appearance and utility, making it more attractively marketed and of higher value.

Neglecting Necessary Repairs

It is necessary to fix all the pending repair work before listing your house on the market. 

Ignoring leaky taps, cracked tiles, damaged walls, or other minor repairs can give the impression that the property could have been better maintained and pose serious issues for new owners' cash.

Consider repairing problems and renovating your property before advertising it to prospective buyers. This will show that your home is well-maintained, giving buyers confidence in its state.

Conclusion

Before embarking on home remodelling, consider some factors unique to the UAE to ensure your home design and interior alteration stay relevant to the value of your property. Eliminate elective frills, concentrate on features applicable to many people, and emphasise the building’s usability, ease of maintenance, and facade condition. Remembering the guidelines mentioned above will help ensure your renovations make your home attractive to buyers and thus help you make a successful sale.

Read more about What property snagging is and why it is important.