9 Surprising Things That Can Hurt Your Home's Value

Whether you're an investment property owner or homeowner, you can probably think of a big list of things that could ding your home's value. From shoddy workmanship and neglected maintenance to bathrooms and kitchens that haven't been updated since the Nixon administration, some liabilities are plain to see.

Let's explore a few of the less obvious factors that could negatively impact the value of your home and how you can avoid them when possible.

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When most people think about what might impact their home's value, they're thinking about the home itself. But anything a buyer expects to have to do when they move in will bring down your home's value -- and that includes landscaping.

If you've never really done any landscaping, it may be worth addressing before trying to sell to boost the curb appeal and asking price. Other landscaping liabilities include trees too close to the house and excessive, high-maintenance landscaping.

ALSO READ: 4 Reasons Not to Sell Your Home in the Winter

Doing your own remodeling if you're pretty handy or know people who are can be a fantastic way to save money. But if you did any major renovations without pulling the appropriate permits, it could come back to bite you when it's time to sell.

If it comes out during the inspection and sale process, it could be a turn-off -- or potential bargaining chip -- for prospective buyers. Things could also get messy, as you could be on the hook for fines and further inspections and repairs, and insurance may not cover damages to the illegally renovated areas.

ALSO READ: 15 Ways to Make Home Renovations More Affordable

This one's not much of a surprise if you think about it, but many people simply don't think to conduct a search for sex offenders near a property before they buy. But an increasing number of people do, and if one of them is interested in your property, they may pass if they find something they don't like when they search.

Fortunately, you can check out any property you're looking at by simply plugging the address into the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website.

You probably know that having neighboring homes in bad condition can be rough on your home's value. But that's not the only way nearby homes can become a liability for you.

The appraiser uses comparable sales, or comps, to help determine your home's value during the appraisal process. The idea is that a similar home recently sold will be an indicator of your home's value. The problem is that if the only recent comps have some significant drawbacks that your home doesn't, they can be used anyway. The same can happen with short sales and foreclosures.

ALSO READ: How Neighbors Impact the Value of Your Home

If you don't have school-aged kids, then what the school district in your area is like may not be a top-of-mind concern for you. But if the school district your home is located in doesn't perform well, how families with children feel about that could negatively impact its value.

GreatSchools, Niche, and SchoolDigger are good websites for getting a well-rounded picture of how the schools in the area are doing.

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Correct or not, many people form opinions when they hear an address. Street names are generally more desirable than numbers, and unique names are viewed more positively than common ones. And if your address ends with road, place, or boulevard, it's perceived as more posh and desirable than an address ending with avenue, street, or drive.

So, while you're unlikely to decide what property to buy based on street name alone, if you're having trouble deciding among a few properties, it may be worth seeing how they measure up in the address department.

ALSO READ: 15 Things to Know Before Buying a Rental Property

Carpet is generally less desirable in a home purchase than hard-surface floors because it's harder to imagine getting it quite as clean.

Wallpaper can also be pretty polarizing. Some love it, some hate it, and the odds of a buyer having the exact same taste in it as you aren't great. Paint is easier to change, and neutral paint colors are the way to go if you intend to sell anytime soon.

Quirky, colorful tiles on floors, countertops, or backsplashes can also make potential buyers less enthusiastic when it's time to make an offer.

ALSO READ: Buying a House in 2022? Consider These 4 Factors

The pandemic left a lot of people feeling cramped in their homes. Whether they needed a home office, classroom, or gym, some turned to their garages to get that much-needed space.

But most buyers in areas where garages are the norm will want a garage. If you convert yours into a room that will no longer house vehicles, you may not be able to command as high a price for your home when you sell.

If a death or crime has occurred on your property, that could impact its value, even if no physical damage was done to the home. If a potential buyer asks about these things, the right thing to do is let them know.

If it's public record, they may find out anyway. But what if they don't ask? Different states have different laws about what does and doesn't have to be disclosed to a seller, so you'll want to check those out if you think your property could qualify as stigmatized.

You know buying a home next door to a bar is likely to hurt your home's value, and you understand that if your home's due for a new roof, you'll have to lower your asking price if you don't intend to replace it before selling.

But there are so many less obvious things that can impact a home's value in surprising ways. Now you can go into the home search or selling process with a few more things to keep an eye out for as you try to maximize your investment.

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