[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Nana2Teddy

Disagree about painted driveways if done tastefully with ARC approval. All of the painted driveways on my new-ish street look far better than the original driveways (including ours, which we will have painted eventually).

Love when some paint their driveways then won’t park on them or run security tape to keep vehicles off. Like they do with brick driveways. Like neighbors want put up with that.

[retiredguy123]

In terms of resale value, I don't think any upgrades are worth it because you will not recover the cost. If you are lucky, you will get back half of what you paid. I haven't done a single upgrade to my house. But when I sell it, I will price it correctly, and I think it will sell very quickly because it will be the lowest price in the neighborhood. In hindsight, I wish I had replaced the flooring before I moved in. Also, if you replace the flooring, I recommend using the same flooring throughout the house, and no carpet.

When you buy a house, make sure that it has a 2-car garage and a golf cart garage. That is something that is difficult to upgrade. There are some 3-bedroom houses in my neighborhood that have a 1.5-car garage. Those people are constantly juggling their vehicles.

[oldtimes]

Originally Posted by ChicagoNative

Decorate and upgrade to what YOU like, not what some HGTV flavor-of-the-month trend says is “in”.

I got a kick out of “Fresh FL decor”. I think beachy-boaty themed homes in pastels are an absolute cliche, but to each their own.

Totally agree.

[dolphin]

Do it after much cheaper

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by midiwiz

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

Protection from what? My bare concrete driveway and patios look as good as new.

[sallyg]

Tiny backyard "swimming" pools.

[mrf0151]

Originally Posted by Nana2Teddy

Agree about pools! This year was our first summer here, and we were very disappointed to find out the pools were too hot to enjoy in Aug/Sept. Not refreshing at all. We aren’t winter swimmers, so now our swimming season has become quite short. Would definitely have a pool built if we had a pool-sized lot.

When it comes to pools the things to consider are the expensive upkeep and when you go to sell the house, your size of potential buyers is much smaller as the majority of buyers do not want a home pool.

[JSR22]

Originally Posted by mrf0151

When it comes to pools the things to consider are the expensive upkeep and when you go to sell the house, your size of potential buyers is much smaller as the majority of buyers do not want a home pool.

I would not live here without a pool in my yard. We only pay $135 a month for cleaning and chemicals. Not expensive. The demand for resale pool homes is very large. My home is not on the market and I have had offers.
I am very happy with the crown moulding no carpeting, paver driveway and walkway and our palm trees. I feel my house looks finished. I find the plain cement driveways to be an eyesore.

[Pennyt]

When we looked at homes in TV, we saw so many had not been updated. They looked old and tired. We quickly looked past those and eventually bought a new home that we added things to after the sale. We love our crown molding as it makes the living areas look finished. We put in closet organizer shelving and enclosed our lanai to make a sunroom for additional square footage. Haven't regretted any of that. Each year we do some kind of upgrade to our house to keep it current. Last year we took out all the carpeting and installed hardwood flooring so now all floors are hard surface. We've freshened our landscaping twice over the 12 years we've lived here. Not all the upgrades will increase the price of the house, BUT it will make our house more competitive in the marketplace. (I was a realtor for many years)

[Wondering]

I have had central vac with hide away hose since 2009 and love it. Four years ago I bought two robotic vacs because I have rescue dogs, I only have area rugs and use the robotic vac every other day and love them. I still use the central vac on occasion. I also have had a non vented propane fireplace since 2009 and love it on mornings like today to take the chill out of the air. I would do both again. That's my experience and I am a bachelor!

[Pat2015]

Originally Posted by mrf0151

When it comes to pools the things to consider are the expensive upkeep and when you go to sell the house, your size of potential buyers is much smaller as the majority of buyers do not want a home pool.

There’s quite a few buyers that won’t buy a house here in FL that doesn’t have a pool, or at least room for a pool.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Pat2015

There’s quite a few buyers that won’t buy a house here in FL that doesn’t have a pool, or at least room for a pool.

IMO To keep up with jones, majority I see that have pools are hardly ever in them. Besides some are just large bath tubes in sardine cramped homes. Sure the 15 % expect pool on their mansions.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Pennyt

When we looked at homes in TV, we saw so many had not been updated. They looked old and tired. We quickly looked past those and eventually bought a new home that we added things to after the sale. We love our crown molding as it makes the living areas look finished. We put in closet organizer shelving and enclosed our lanai to make a sunroom for additional square footage. Haven't regretted any of that. Each year we do some kind of upgrade to our house to keep it current. Last year we took out all the carpeting and installed hardwood flooring so now all floors are hard surface. We've freshened our landscaping twice over the 12 years we've lived here. Not all the upgrades will increase the price of the house, BUT it will make our house more competitive in the marketplace. (I was a realtor for many years)

So you updated to keep updated…
Some people can’t stop updating or spending money…..

[ThirdOfFive]

Not precisely a house upgrade...but as vacuum cleaning is being discussed, any opinions on those "Roomba" robot floor cleaners?

[MSGirl]

Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe

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.

I agree with the crown molding! It does say old folks live here! When my daughter was building her house, her designer advised her not to get crown molding! She said young folks want a more modern look.
Add to the list- painting your driveway. It wears over time and actually begins to age the house. Looks beautiful in the beginning- later not so much. Too much upkeep. Just power wash the driveway! It’s a driveway after all.