A home renovation is a big investment so it’s natural to assume that any money spent will add to the overall value of your property. However, there are certain home improvements that do not add value and could even hurt future saleability.    

Home Improvements That Do NOT Add Value in the UK 

Like anything, home renovation trends come and go as lifestyles and family units change. Even some tried-and-tested classics can have today’s buyers heading for the door. 

1. Swimming Pool

Who doesn’t love a swimming pool? Lots of would-be buyers, apparently. This once-popular aspirational feature has now fallen from grace and is such a poor return on investment it can even devalue your home.  

A pool is great if you have the space and perhaps a family of a certain age, but it’s a big investment that you’re unlikely to recoup. Installation costs range from £20,000 to £30,000 and maintenance can run to £10 per day. That’s all year round, whether you use it or not. In the UK, ‘not’ is likely to be most of the year. 

Pools also take up a lot of space, which is at a premium in cities like London. Unless you have mansion-house grounds, most people would rather be able to build an extension on the land or have a garden they will get more use out of.   

2. Conservatory

Conservatories have been popular since Victorian times to let in light and enjoy the outdoors from the comfort of indoors. However, they hit peak popularity in the 90s and have been going steadily downhill ever since. 

The truth is, even a well-built, double-glazed modern conservatory is still less energy efficient than other areas of the house, which means higher heating bills. Unless you have a large home, your land and money will be put to better use by increasing living space with an extension or loft conversion. The latter adds around 15% to the value of your home, compared to 5% for a conservatory.  

3. Wine Cellar

Once a staple feature of the upwardly mobile home, wine cellars are now yesterday’s news. Unless you’re selling to a serious oenophile (that’s a wine lover to you and me) they don’t add value. Quite the opposite, in fact. In London, most people would prefer to have the living space, so all a wine cellar tells them is to get out their chequebook and prepare for a basement renovation.   

4. Wallpaper

This ubiquitous wall covering is great for upping the aesthetic appeal of your home, as long as you and potential buyers share the same taste. Otherwise, too much is actually off-putting as stripping it is a tedious job people won’t want if they’re looking for a move-in-ready home. 

Wallpaper is great for covering a multitude of sins so by all means use it, but stick to a feature wall and paint other areas instead.  

5. Going for the Cheapest Option 

It’s important to shop around and compare quotes but beware of going with the cheapest. Some suppliers or contractors will undercut everyone else only to do substandard work or cut corners with cheap materials. This can leave you with extra costs and headaches or, worse, damage to your property and its value. 

As an example, skylights are a popular way to brighten up your home and boost its value but must be high quality and expertly fitted so they don’t leak. If they aren’t, fixing them can be a nightmare. Sometimes the only option is to rip them out and start again.  

Similarly, if you’re planning a loft conversion, extension or other exterior work, make sure your builder knows the structural requirements and what planning or other permissions you need. An unsafe or uncertified renovation will make it impossible to sell your home in the future. 

Ultimately, prioritising home renovations depends on your intentions. If you’ve found your forever home, its resale value may not be forefront in your mind. However, if it’s your first home or you’re on a budget, take care to avoid home improvements that do not add value. Either way, always make sure your home renovation is done to a high standard by an experienced professional. 

Now that you know which home improvements you shouldn't do, check out our recommendations for the home improvements that do add value.