Ah, the sudden urge to update everything around the house and buy things you might or might not need. Quite a few of us have likely gone through such a stage in life, which can be both a blessing and a curse, resulting in a comfortable home or quite significant hits to the wallet; or often—both.
But during such times, the materials for a home renovation or all sorts of furniture and appliances don’t necessarily have to be the most expensive ones on the market. Redditors recently discussed what things are not worth it for homeowners to splurge on, so if you’re interested in seeing what items might not be a worthy investment, scroll down to find the answers on the list below.
#1
I sound crotchety and old but NONE of my appliances need to connect to the internet of things. The hell does a fridge need wifi for?
Image source: Bluegodzi11a, Curtis Adams
#2
The worst thing you can splurge on is Marble countertops. They are an absolute nightmare to maintain and even WATER will stain them.
Image source: ebmoney, Simona Sergi
#3
As a rule, I always buy the most basic washer and drier with as few bells and whistles. The more extras there are, the more likely it will break and be fixed/replaced.
Unless they invent a drier that will fold every one of my fresh briefs perfectly, I ain’t changing. The most advanced feature I want is a buzzer that goes off when it’s done like it’s from 1975. You can take your Bluetooth enabled machine with a touch screen that costs $5k and I take mine that cost $250 from a secondhand store.
Image source: DreiKatzenVater
#4
I think anything that you feel you have to be super careful about keeping nice. Like if you get a butcher block counter and worry about it getting marked up from normal kitchen activities then maybe it wasn’t a good choice
Image source: Bluemonogi, MART PRODUCTION
#5
Calling a handyman or pro for every little thing. YouTube and a couple (okay, nineteen) trips to the hardware store and you’ll save a ridiculous amount of money AND learn some new skills.
Image source: zenOFiniquity8, Bidvine
#6
If you have pets, forget about splurging on high end furniture.
Image source: jwhyem, Anna Alexes
#7
Worst “splurge” IMO is remodelling things that are in perfectly good shape just to chase the latest trend.
Remodeling a bathroom from the 70’s? Good plan.
Remodeling a bathroom that was just redone in 2014? Huge waste of money with basically zero ROI.
Image source: Yangoose, Anastasia Shuraeva
#8
Buying what you want, rather than what you need are the worst things to splurge on.
From your car to your toaster, if it works and doesn’t actually cause problems then don’t replace it.
Image source: cyber49
#9
I will get flamed, but definitely high end tools. 99% of homeowners will do fine with some harbor freight/garage sale/estate sale tools.
If I’m building my once in a lifetime project, saving 90 seconds by using a shiny new $400 saw doesn’t matter to me. The $50 flea market saw will be more than enough.
Image source: boobaies, cottonbro studio
#10
I bought a brand new fridge at the Dent and Scratch store – had some minor to moderate cosmetic damages but otherwise was perfectly fine, stainless steel, fancy fridge for $1,100 off the retail price because of the cosmetic damages. Highly recommend the dent and scratch store
Image source: KamikiMaki, PNW Production
#11
To answer the OP’s question: Saunas and Hot Tubs. It’s one of those things that’s really cool, definitely brag-worthy, and exciting for the first couple of months… maybe a year. After that: Nothing. You ask them if they still use it and they say “Too much trouble” or “It costs too much to heat.”
Image source: c9belayer, Ron Lach
#12
Replacing a lawn with pavers, especially a south-facing yard (northern hemi). The reflected heat and radiated heat makes everything twice as hot for twice as long.
Image source: milesofkeeffe, Matthew Halmshaw’s profile Matthew Halmshaw
#13
Not super specific, but anything major you do in the first couple years that isn’t necessary to the house being livable. Fridge dies? Of course get a new one. You need one of those, fancy upgrade or not. Want to gut your entire kitchen that’s functional but maybe just not pretty? Maybe wait a year or two, or even just a few seasons. See what it’s like to live and move in the space and determine what is most important to spend money on.
Image source: JuracekPark34, Karolina Grabowska
#14
Beautiful patterned cement tiles for our bathroom floors. They look gorgeous but they are a huge pain in the a*s. They crack, chip, scratch, and stain easily, and you have to use a special cleaner on them. Wish I’d done a bit more research before buying them. They do look great though. We’re trying to just accept that they’ll get a bit beat up with time.
Edit: I gotta say, though, still [might be worth it](https://imgur.com/a/U2Wr6Bd)
Image source: marmosetohmarmoset, marmosetohmarmoset
#15
I think the worst splurge is anything you do for resale value. Splurge on what you care about, the stuff that you will enjoy while you live there, and just maintain the rest.
Image source: regallll, RDNE Stock project
#16
Those gross “3 season rooms” that always smell like mildew and no one ever uses. Do a screened porch instead.
Image source: awilty, Point3D Commercial Imaging Ltd.
#17
Read the reviews. Samsung appliances are not the best. As someone else on here said recently. Samsung is know for TV not their refrigerators.
Image source: pork_chop17, Kārlis Dambrāns
#18
I might get some flack for this, but lawn work. My mower, weed-eater, and other attachments will pay for themselves in about two months because I’m not paying someone else to do the lawn work for me.
Image source: readcommentbackwards, Magic K
#19
Pools
Everyone always wants a pool, they are crazy expensive to put in (especially where I live) they don’t add half the value they cost to the value of the property and depending on where you live can be up to several hundred dollars a month in electricity for the pump, chlorine, other chemicals and general maintenance. That doesn’t even include the fact that the pump and filter need to be replaced about every 6 years so that’s another 2 – 5k.
Image source: Hustlasaurus, Oleksandr P
#20
Anything you “splurge” on with the intent to “add value” to your home. There are some projects that will truly add value to your home, but it is pretty rare to get back what you spent. That $10K on a bathroom with the upgraded faucets update probably added a few thousand back onto the value of your house. Spending $20K on a backyard makeover might have helped a little. But you’re not going to be able to tack $30K onto your selling price and get bidding wars over it. At best you’re going to get your house back up to be in line with the comp prices.
Make changes to your home that give YOU benefits. Do you hate walking into that 60s bathroom with the pink porcelain tub and toilet? By all means replace it with something that makes you happy and brings you joy when you use it. If $10K makes you happy, then it is money well spent. Just don’t be surprised if it doesn’t help when you go to sell your home.
Image source: JJHall_ID, Liza Summer
#21
Pool Table…
Unless you are a big player you are going to be using it to store junk. lol
Image source: a1ien51, Pavel Danilyuk
#22
Electric radiant floors.
In my bathroom it’s nice in the winter. But in my office, 3 out of 5 sections died in a year and now I can’t keep that room warm enough without a space heater. Very expensive and not serviceable without a ripping up the floors renovation.
Image source: North_Ad_4450, cottonbro studio
#23
Somewhat sarcastic but also for real. Do not get a koi pond to improve your landscaping. Those fish will suck you dry with maintenance, special food, and filtration systems. The first pond you put in will be too small and you’ll want to redo it much larger and more elaborately every few years. You’ll join the local club and want to import fancy fish from Japan. You’ll visit your club member’s homes and get jealous of their pond and want to dump more money improving yours.
Image source: ThaiTum, Quang Nguyen Vinh
#24
A bunch of tools with the idea that you’ll eventually use them, you won’t. You’ll just have a $650 double bevel sliding miter saw sitting in your garage.
Image source: TheBimpo, Artem Podrez
#25
We bought a home that had high end but older appliances. We couldn’t get parts for them. It was such a PITA. So dumb.
I think the worst thing you could splurge on is painting your cabinets. The way trends change, you’ll be regretting it in a few years. Luckily I never got past the “thinking about it” phase in my house with real wood cabinetry. Sure they needed refreshing but thank goodness I didn’t paint those beauties…wood cabinetry is back in “style.”
Image source: SpiritualSimple108, Blue Bird
#26
Painting, landscaping, power washing.
I painted my whole house, did all my landscaping, and will be borrowing a power washer to power wash my house once it gets a little cooler out. All of these things cost me a couple hundred bucks to do myself vs thousands to hire others to do it. Vastly improved the appearance both inside and out too.
Update: For clarification I painted the interior of the house. The exterior is red brick and it didn’t need painting.
Image source: Chocolate-and-Shoes, Anete Lusina
#27
Fancy rugs. Nobody cares. Get them on clearance and call it a day!
Image source: Heyyitskayleee, Spencer Selover
#28
I don’t think you should splurge on:
1. Door knobs. $30 max
2. Cabinet pulls and drawer handles
3. Wireless Window treatments. My buddy just dropped over $2000 for remote control blinds in one room. Nuts
4. Fancy wallpaper
5. Marble countertops
Things that are worth the splurge
1. Nice windows
2. A nice range if you cook
3. Finished closets. A well designed closet can more than double the storage you get out of your closets.
4. Nicer exterior door
5. Bathroom exhaust fans
Image source: themanofchicago
#29
Hard wood flooring when you have kids/pets/people with mobility aides
Paid a s**t ton for it in our main living room and now a three years later it looks like s**t.
Would have to spend money again to refinish.
Yet our lifetime laminate that was a fraction of the cost has held up and looks like new.
Image source: moltenrhino, cottonbro studio
#30
Pin pad smart door locks. I love being able to remotely verify that I have locked a door, or give someone a temporary code, never having to worry about locking myself out of the house, etc, etc. They cost a couple hundred each, but they’re one of the best things I’ve added.
Image source: GrayestRock
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