Renovation Reality Check

We have all fallen down the rabbit hole of saving photos of marble waterfalls and custom soaking tubs. But before you take a sledgehammer to that wall, we need to have a little "ROI" (Return on Investment) chat. Not all renovations are created equal.

Cosmetic is Key Think of paint, flooring, and lighting as the "mascara and lipstick" of the house. They are relatively cheap, high-impact, and make the house look fresh. These are almost always a good idea.

Don’t Over-Improve If you put a $60,000 chef’s kitchen into a home in a neighborhood where every other house is worth $250,000, you aren't investing; you’re donating to the next buyer. The appraiser looks at the neighbors, not just your fancy backsplash.

Structural vs. Sexy Buyers love "sexy" things like quartz counters. They expect boring things like a roof that doesn't leak and a furnace that works. If you have $10k to spend, fix the boring stuff first. A pretty house with a bad foundation is just a very expensive problem.