Home improvements that aren't worth it
 

There are plenty of threads on upgrades that you should get on your new home. This isn't one of those threads.

Many of us bought a pre-owned home that we otherwise love but have upgrades that just aren't worth it.

My list includes:

Built in vacuum. While it is nice, it is I just don't use it that much as I thought I would. Even with a self storing hose. My wife doesn't vacuum much, she is indifferent.

Vented gas fireplace. It's nice for a few weeks this time of year but the cost could be better allocated elsewhere.

Agree about the vacuum. Have robot that sweeps and mops. Don’t have to be home, and return to dock, charging, then resume vacuum and mop. Keep old vacuum to get dirt out of the multi track sliders

Agree with Central Vac. Disagree with fireplace because we like the ambience they give off when used.

I would put Crown Moulding on the list of useless upgrades. It makes a place look too formal, too "up north" and too "old people live here." Same with dark heavy furniture. I don't care how Thomasville, Ethan Allen, or custom it is, dark heavy furniture looks too "up north" too formal, and too "old people."

IMHO.

Agree on both, especially the central vac. Those are difficult/costly to install on finished construction unless you have an unfinished basement, which Villages homes do not. The ambiance of the vented gas fireplace eventually wears off and doesn’t justify the expense. Plus, for a much cheaper price you can get an outdoor propane fire pit to occasionally scratch the itch of sitting by a fire.

I would maybe add “storm doors” - Everyone had them back in Colorado, not sure how important they are here in Florida.

Screens on windows.

Palm Trees in Yards

Live oaks

Definitely Crown Molding
 

Crown molding and painted driveways for me. What a waste. They wanted 10k when we built our house for crown throughout.

Totally agree. I also have never understood all of the antiques here. When I moved here, I wanted fresh, light, FL decor. I also did some antique dealing back home and after researching, I learned that antiques sell down here for 10 cents on the dollar because so many bring them here and there is no market for them. I did keep a couple of european bars and I stripped down and painted to make them FL friendly. I used to pop into estate sales now and then and it was just sad how many formerly nice antiques were donated becuase nobody buys them here.

This is the time of year when many love to sleep with the windows open. You don't do that without screens.
I totally agree on the palm trees. I wish my neighbors would get rid of theirs.

Robot lawn mower. I think my neighbors paid over $2000.

My neighbors lawn looks like crap. It cuts too short and sometimes misses spots, but they supposedly can't leave it normal height like everyone else since St Augustine grass is too thick that it can get stuck so it runs every couple of days. So you have the 3 adjoining lawns all the same height but theirs is 2" shorter.

I pay $80/month and my lawn looks normal and they run a trimmer around my landscaping beds each time they cut.

Lipstick on a pig!
 

All cosmetic upgrades. No matter what you do or how much you spend, your house will still be a cookie cutter copy of all the other houses & will still look pretty much the same as all the rest. You can put lipstick on a pig but it's still a pig.

As a contractor, I have learned homes with neutral colors sell quickly. Homes with different color walls in each room, different types of flooring, mismatched cabinetry, mismatched tiles, and wall paper are difficut to sell.

Several Interior designers have taught me this rule of thumb: bring color into a room through fabric, art work, and accessories. Always keep walls and flooring neutral and the same color throughout the home.

I agree with Palm Trees. They need constant maintenance.

way too funny. 'fresh FL decor' really there's no such thing. That 'trend' was set by the Northeasterners from watching TV LOL. As for antiques, that's up to the buyer, I've known a lot of people that hunt them down for specific reasons (some that mystify me) but mostly becuase they are built better than new items.

then I guess they don't understand the lawn....

crown is one thing, but the driveway that's different it's called protection.