Home Upgrades People Almost Always Regret
From swimming pools to trendy finishes, these popular renovations often disappoint long after the excitement fades — and the bills arrive.
Home upgrades can reshape daily life and, in the right circumstances, add meaningful value to a property — yet the renovation landscape is littered with costly decisions that homeowners come to regret. According to research published by Clever Real Estate in 2024, nearly three in four homeowners who remodeled reported some form of regret over their renovation, with over-budget projects and longer-than-expected timelines ranking among the most common frustrations. The average American household spent $9,322 on home improvement projects in 2024, according to Angi’s State of Home Spending report, and more than three-quarters of homeowners said their most recent project exceeded its planned budget. Understanding which home upgrades most reliably disappoint — and why — can help homeowners make significantly smarter choices about where to direct their renovation dollars.
Swimming Pools and the Ongoing Cost of Outdoor Luxury
Swimming pools represent one of the most discussed and frequently regretted home additions in the United States. The financial math is often sobering from the outset. According to data from ibuyer.com and multiple real estate research sources, most homeowners recover only 40 to 60 percent of a pool’s installation cost through resale value. Installing an inground pool typically costs between $35,000 and $100,000, yet the value added nationally sits between $11,000 and $90,000 depending on location, pool condition, and neighborhood expectations. Zillow’s analysis found that homes with swimming pools sell for approximately 1.5 percent more than comparable homes without one — a modest premium relative to typical installation costs. The NAR’s 2023 Remodeling Impact Report pegged typical cost recovery for an inground pool at 56 percent of the $90,000 average installation cost nationally.
Climate is the decisive variable. In Sun Belt states such as Florida, Arizona, Texas, and California, pools are often expected amenities and can add 10 to 15 percent or more to a home’s value. In northern states with short swimming seasons, however, the return is frequently flat or even negative, and the pool can narrow the buyer pool rather than expand it. Annual maintenance costs — estimated at $1,200 to $3,500 — further erode the net return over time. Insurance premiums also typically increase for properties with pools due to added liability exposure, and some insurers require specific safety features such as fencing, covers, and alarms as conditions of coverage. Many pool owners report using the feature far less frequently than they anticipated once the initial excitement gives way to routine maintenance responsibilities.
Hot tubs present similar challenges. While generally less expensive to install than inground pools, they require consistent chemical maintenance, regular filter changes, and eventual replacement of covers and components. Energy costs for heating can accumulate substantially over time, adding to the long-term financial burden beyond the initial purchase price.
Swimming Pool: Installation Cost vs. Estimated Resale Recovery
National average figures. Source: NAR 2023 Remodeling Impact Report / ibuyer.com research.
Open Floor Plans That Sacrifice Function for Trend
Removing walls to create open-concept living spaces dominated home renovation culture for the better part of two decades, driven in no small part by the influence of television renovation programming. However, homeowners who undertook major structural changes to achieve fully open layouts have increasingly discovered practical limitations that weren’t apparent during the design phase. Noise pollution, the spread of kitchen odors throughout connected living areas, and the difficulty of maintaining distinct functional zones within a shared space are among the most commonly cited drawbacks. By 2024, designers and real estate professionals were documenting a measurable shift away from completely open layouts toward more defined, flexible spaces.
The period of widespread remote work beginning in 2020 revealed the limitations of fully open floor plans with particular clarity. The rise of remote work underscored the importance of adaptable home environments, with homeowners increasingly prioritizing rooms that can be easily transformed to meet changing needs — from a home office during the day to an entertainment space in the evening. Real estate agent Emily Waldmann of Douglas Elliman noted in published reports from early 2025 that buyers were moving away from the most open floor plans, gravitating instead toward living spaces built around socialization that remain separate from work or relaxation areas. Homeowners who removed load-bearing walls face the added complication that restoring structural elements costs considerably more than the original removal.
Noise & Privacy
Sound travels freely across open spaces, creating friction between household members with different schedules or activities.
Cooking Odors
Kitchen smells permeate the entire living area, which can be disruptive during meals prepared in adjacent seating spaces.
Work-From-Home Gaps
Remote work and home schooling revealed that households often need separable, closeable rooms that open-plan layouts cannot provide.
Luxury Bathroom Features That Disappoint Daily Users
High-end bathroom renovations frequently include features that appear compelling during the design phase but prove impractical in everyday use. Freestanding soaking tubs represent one commonly cited example. Freestanding tubs are visually striking and often serve as statement features that elevate a bathroom’s aesthetic, but many homeowners report rarely using them due to the time required to fill them and the water consumption involved. According to the Remodeling Cost vs. Value framework, an upscale bathroom remodel that incorporated a freestanding soaking tub with high-end faucets returned approximately 56.6 percent of its investment at resale. The NAR’s 2025 Remodeling Impact Report estimated that bathroom renovation projects recovered about half their cost at resale on average, making overspending on luxury fixtures a financially consequential decision.
The question of whether to retain or remove bathtubs has become a notable topic in renovation planning. Families with young children and prospective buyers who expect at least one bathtub often view shower-only homes as a limitation. In family-oriented neighborhoods, removing the only bathtub may affect resale flexibility, though in urban or luxury markets where walk-in showers are preferred, the effect may be minimal. Vessel sinks that sit atop counters present another instance of form overriding function: water tends to splash more readily with raised basins, and the reduced counter space around the sink creates daily inconveniences. Trendy tile choices — particularly highly textured or dark-colored options — can show water spots and require more frequent cleaning than homeowners anticipate at the point of selection.
Kitchen Renovation Regrets from Appliances to Layout Planning
Kitchen upgrades consume substantial portions of home improvement budgets, and several common choices lead to disappointment at the level of both daily use and resale return. According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2024 Cost vs. Value report, a minor kitchen remodel recovers approximately 113 percent of its cost at resale, while a major upscale renovation returns closer to 50 percent of what was spent. High-end appliances represent a particularly problematic investment: major kitchen remodels recoup under 70 percent of their cost at resale, and über-high-end appliances are the least likely component to recover their value, since buyers are generally not willing to pay a premium for professional-grade equipment they did not select themselves. Unless a homeowner regularly cooks at a level that genuinely requires commercial-grade features, these appliances often prove excessive for typical household needs while adding disproportionate cost.
Kitchen islands have become nearly standard in renovations, but poorly planned islands generate consistent daily frustrations. Islands that are too small to accommodate seating comfortably, or too large for the kitchen’s footprint, create traffic flow problems and reduce functional workspace. Trendy cabinet finishes and hardware can appeal at the point of selection but grow tiresome over years of use. White cabinetry, while perennially popular, requires constant attention in busy kitchens and shows wear and staining more readily than many homeowners anticipate. Open shelving, which promised a breezy, minimalist look, has by 2025 come to signal an outdated kitchen in the eyes of many buyers — practical storage that hides messes has regained preference over display-oriented shelving that requires constant curation to look its best.
Insufficient electrical outlets planned during renovation frequently require awkward workarounds for appliances and charging needs. Real estate and contractor sources consistently list outlet shortage among the top overlooked regrets in kitchen remodels, as code requirements for receptacle spacing have tightened precisely because of how consistently the issue creates problems post-renovation.
Garage Conversions and Built-In Storage Systems That Limit Flexibility
Converting garage space into living areas is a renovation that carries significant risk, particularly in suburban markets where covered parking and storage are considered important features by buyers. In neighborhoods where most homes have functional garages, buyers frequently view the loss of that space negatively, and a garage conversion in such a context can reduce resale appeal. Real estate consultant Andrew Brown of Keller Williams Realty in Massachusetts has noted that if garages are highly desirable in a neighborhood, removing one affects resale value and limits the seller’s buyer pool. Poorly executed garage conversions can compound the issue, as they often do not heat and cool as effectively as the rest of the home and may create awkward layout dynamics.
Custom closet systems and built-in shelving represent another category of upgrades that can disappoint over time. While organized storage appeals broadly during the planning phase, permanent installations may not accommodate changing household needs. Closet configurations designed for a current wardrobe may prove inadequate as needs evolve. Built-in home office setups carry similar risk as technology changes and work patterns shift. Converting a bedroom into a dedicated closet is a commonly cited mistake: removing a bedroom can decrease a property’s value by up to 15 percent, according to HomeAdvisor data, making such conversions particularly problematic when homeowners later decide to sell. The core principle is that permanent alterations that reduce flexibility frequently prove shortsighted, particularly in markets where buyers expect a conventional layout.
Real estate professionals consistently recommend evaluating three questions before committing to a major home upgrade: How long do you plan to stay in the home? Does the improvement align with neighborhood standards and buyer expectations in your specific market? And will the feature serve practical daily needs rather than occasional or aspirational use? Consulting with a local real estate agent before undertaking an expensive renovation can prevent decisions that feel exciting in the showroom but disappointing in the years that follow.
