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12 Upgrades Realtors Swear Are Worthless and Just Waste Your Money

Two experts share how you can save time and money by skipping these non-beneficial update mistakes.

By Stacy Garrels

Edited by Lauren Wellbank

Updated Jan. 23, 2025

Getting your home ready to sell often means tackling the dreaded upgrades you've put off in a bid to make top dollar. While some minor changes can make a difference, not all of them will help you to make extra money.

To learn more, we talked to two experts who each hold over a decade of industry experience, and both have words of caution when it comes to minor home updates that are better left untouched, as many small flourishes add very little (if any) value, waste time, and could harm your home's overall market appeal.

Here are a few upgrades you can skip when getting ready to sell your home.

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Closets updos

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According to Jennifer Okhovat, a realtor with Compass in West Hollywood who sells real estate in the Beverly Hills and Los Angeles area, closet redos are a common mistake. Many sellers make upgrades when a simple clean-up or new coat of paint would save time and appeal to more buyers.

"Closets are very specific to whoever is using them, " says Okhovat, and in her experience, buyers will not pay more for custom closets.

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New organization systems

organized pantry shelves filled with jars of dry goods

Many sellers will deck out their closets, pantries, and other nooks and crannies with organizers to give the allure of ample storage space. While some buyers may appreciate the extra shelving and hanging rods, organization systems are another upgrade that Okhovat says is not worth the time or money.

Let the buyers customize storage to their needs, and save the trip to The Container Store for your next house.

Painting walls a trendy color

While it's tempting to pick a bold or trendy shade to refresh your walls, this can backfire. Buyers often prefer muted tones like white, grey, or cream that provide a blank slate for their own vision.

If you're repainting, Daniel Cabrera, owner and founder of Sell My House Fast SA TX, recommends sticking to a neutral palette. Otherwise, just let buyers personalize the space after they move in.

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Replacing cabinet hardware with bold touches

Swapping out cabinet knobs and pulls can be a quick way to modernize a kitchen, but opting for bold or trendy hardware might alienate buyers.

Cabrera advises caution when it comes to wallpaper, decorative elements, or other such accents. "These minor renovations can conflict with a buyer's taste and make spaces appear too tailored, which reduces the appeal of the house," he says.

Minimalist or neutral options are safe bets. Cabrera suggests champagne bronze hardware, as it's popular and can be purchased affordably on Amazon.

Installing open shelving

The open shelving trend may be on its way out in 2025.

While it has a beautiful, airy look that some buyers love, it can often be impractical. Closed doors offer more storage, cleaner lines (less visual clutter), and protect mugs from errant, flying toys — not to mention cooking oil splattering all over your clean dishes.

Installing open shelves is another style-specific choice that could be off-putting to buyers who may find it less functional and see dollar signs where cabinet doors once hung.

Updating window treatments

No one wants to list their home with dusty old blinds and dated window treatments. If they are an eyesore, Cabrea says to skip cleaning or replacing them and instead "just remove them altogether."

These older fixtures "can date a space or leave it in darkness," Cabrera notes, and cleaning them or replacing them is a waste of time. "Let natural light seep through into the space."

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Adding a bold accent wall

Accent walls in dramatic colors or patterns can be polarizing. The trend has been on its way out for a while, according to designers, and the concept only works if expertly executed.

Some buyers may only see the color as extra work needed for a paint job, and according to Cabrera, "Painting over bold murals or accent walls is a must."

A neutral, cohesive wall color is a safer, broad-appeal bet. And why wouldn't you save such bold, personal expression for your next home?

Replacing appliances with bold finishes

Brightly colored or unconventional appliances may be trendy, but they could alienate buyers who favor classic stainless steel or panel-ready designs that match existing cabinetry and layout.

These changes run counter to Cabrera's advice on simplicity. He cautions anything "can conflict with a buyer's taste and make spaces appear too tailored" will reduce your house's appeal.

Buyers want kitchens that feel timeless, cohesive, and easy to personalize — not a space they'll feel pressured to re-update.

Installing trendy wallpaper

Maximalist wallpaper might reflect your personality, but it rarely aligns with a buyer's vision, since many see wallpaper as a sin worse than ugly paint colors.

If the seller has the time or budget, Cabrera strongly advises its removal. "Wallpaper often makes a home feel outdated, and buyers start to question the age of other major systems, like the HVAC, roof, or water heater."

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Removing functional furnishings

Minimalism is appealing, and so is shoving all your furniture and belongings into storage to get it out of the way. But overdoing it on decluttering or pre-moving can leave a space feeling cold or uninviting.

You need enough furniture to stage your home, highlighting how rooms function without stripping them of warmth or comfort.

Cabrera believes staging any home is priceless. He notes that furnishings and decor can help buyers fall in love with your home and overlook minor flaws.

During final walkthroughs Cabrera says that buyers can sometimes feel disappointed by the sight of an empty house, since the earlier staging helped them to create an "emotional connection to the property."

Cheap updates

Not everything old or ugly needs to be updated. Installing budget lighting fixtures and hardware may seem like an upgrade, but Cabrera cautions against it, saying that buyers can usually tell when something is not good quality.

Instead, he says the seller's aim "should be to show the home clean and uncluttered" rather than filled with cheap upgrades.

Partial remodels

Redoing only a part of the kitchen or bathroom is another makeover mistake that Okhovat warns buyers to steer clear of, since partial upgrades are not worth the time or effort.

"It's my professional opinion to go all out and do it all," she says. "Otherwise, buyers may question the integrity of the 'remodel' and what other things have been left incomplete in the home."

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Bottom line

When preparing your home for sale, not all upgrades are worth the investment. Focus on creating a clean, neutral space that allows buyers to envision their own style and future in the home.

By skipping unnecessary updates — like bold paint colors, trendy fixtures, and partial cosmetic updates — you can save time and money for what matters most, like coming up with ways to help pay for your mortgage or building a rainy day fund.

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