The biggest DIY mistakes that can hurt your home’s value
DIY projects have surged in popularity in recent years, with many homeowners turning to online tutorials for inspiration. However, Adrian Goslett, CEO and Regional Director of RE/MAX Southern Africa, notes that while some projects can help refresh a home on a budget, others have the potential to reduce its value and create costly defects in the long term.
“The right improvements can make a property more attractive to prospective buyers, but the wrong ones can leave homeowners spending far more to correct mistakes than they would have ever saved by doing the work themselves,” he explains.
Below are four DIY mistakes that can hurt your home’s resale value.
1. Designing for your taste, not the market
While bold colours and custom murals can reflect your individual style, they can make it harder for prospective buyers to imagine themselves living in the home. For features that are expensive to replace, homeowners should consider choosing more neutral and timeless options that appeal to a wider audience.
You can always add personality through less permanent features such as cushions, curtains and other removable décor items.
2. Hiding problems instead of fixing them
“Covering cracks with a fresh coat of paint or masking damp problems instead of addressing the underlying cause may seem like an easy fix, but these issues rarely stay hidden for long and can lead to more costly damage later.
“Buyers often notice these warning signs, and they can undermine confidence in the property’s condition, potentially leading to lower offers,” says Goslett.
3. Overcapitalising in the wrong neighbourhood
Ready to pump some iron in your home gym, or perhaps you are an aspiring wine connoisseur wanting your very own wine cellar? While these features may sound appealing, they will not necessarily increase your home’s value by an amount equal to the cost of creating them.
Homeowners should focus on upgrades that align with local market conditions, as spending beyond the neighbourhood’s price ceiling can make it difficult to recover the investment when selling.
4. Taking on jobs outside your skill level
“One of the biggest DIY mistakes that can impact your home’s value is attempting electrical and plumbing work yourself. Not only can this create safety hazards and raise concerns about hidden defects during the selling process, but non-compliant work can prevent the required Certificate of Compliance (CoC) from being issued until defects have been corrected.
“In most cases, it is more cost-effective to have the work completed by a qualified professional than to risk more expensive repairs later. If you are unsure whether to tackle a project yourself, reach out to a professional for advice before picking up that old toolbox,” Goslett concludes.
