10 Shocking Factors That Decrease Your Home Value
When it comes to some of our biggest investments, houses are certainly one of them.
As we spend a lot of time inside our homes, we get used to certain things that might become problematic later on.
Whether you’re planning to list your house for sale or leave it for your family as an inheritance, it’s crucial to preserve its value.
To do that, you’ll need to be aware of some shocking things that decrease your home value. Starting today, you can use the following list and act on time in order to maximize your home value in years to come.
1. Wet Ceiling Problems
Homes with wet ceiling problems are among the first ones to get discarded as the purchasing option for most buyers. When ignored, water spreads easily through walls and paint. Fixing bad roofs and placing new tiles and panels is a good place to start.
2. School District
Homes that are near safe schools with good reputations sell well, and vice versa. People usually buy houses long-term, so naturally, they want their kids to grow up in a good neighborhood and school.
3. Bad Neighborhood
Speaking of good neighborhoods, it helps if your surrounding area is both peaceful and welcoming. You can contribute to the good reputation of your neighborhood by maintaining friendly relations with your neighbors.
4. Exterior Paint Quality
A deteriorated exterior paint not only looks bad at first sight but gives off the impression that the whole house is not properly maintained. Repainting your exterior house walls might improve your chances of attracting serious buyers more than you think it will.
5. Outdated Bathrooms and Kitchens
Kitchens and bathrooms are an integral part of any house. Because they are used so often, your kitchen appliances and bathroom fixtures need to be in good shape. Outdated ones will only urge buyers to calculate the renovation cost, which isn’t an optimal scenario.
6. Damaged Roof
Good homeowners know that a house is nothing without a sturdy and durable roof. Even if your walls show signs of previous roof leaks, you should fix them. Fixing a leaking roof is a no-brainer and a must, as water damage can damage anything inside your home.
7. Unsightly Yard
A clean and clutter-free yard is like a crown to your home. On the other hand, an unkept yard shows a lack of overall maintenance, which can signal a low home value to the buyers.
8. Surrounding Facilities
Having bad schools, cemeteries, homeless shelters, and power plants surrounding your home is not that bad but is also not desirable. You should keep that in mind when choosing the price of your home.
9. Carpets
Some of the newest interior trends lack carpets entirely. This is because carpet-free areas are easier to clean and style. Consider removing carpets or changing them before you start selling your home.
10. Delayed Maintenance
Last but not least, make sure to fix any remaining problems around your home. Put effort into fixing problems as they appear because delaying only causes larger ones to appear.
Moreover, make sure to take care of the details, as they can leave a lasting bad impression. For example, remove that ugly brown stain in toilet bowl as it can affect the look of the whole bathroom.
The Takeaway
Even though bad neighborhoods and other similar factors cannot be changed, there are still plenty of those that can. It’s usually the things that we see daily and details that are often overlooked that can make the most change.
Checking off major things from this list will already put you a few steps ahead in the journey of maximizing your home value.
You May Also Enjoy
Housing Insight Report October 2025
9 luxury property features to impress Christmas guests
No acceleration in rental EPC improvements despite policy push
London renters making it onto the ladder without a deposit
Prime London Sees Post-Budget Surge in £2m+ Listings
