Honestly, I’ve seen this play out with clients more than once. Folks get excited about the “wow” factor, but when it comes time to sell, it’s the basics that matter. Like you said,
One couple I worked with put all their equity into a gorgeous kitchen, but ignored their 30-year-old roof. They ended up scrambling (and spending more) when leaks showed up during their open house. The dream kitchen’s great, but it won’t keep the rain out.“The ROI on not having your ceiling collapse is pretty solid.”
Title: Is tapping home equity for cash really worth it?
I see this happen a lot—folks pour money into flashy upgrades, then get caught off guard by basic maintenance issues. I get it, a high-end kitchen feels like a great investment, but I’ve watched buyers walk away from homes with obvious roof or foundation problems, no matter how nice the finishes are. It’s almost like people forget that the “boring” stuff is what actually keeps the house standing.
Not saying you shouldn’t update kitchens or baths if they’re outdated, but if your HVAC is on its last legs or the siding’s falling apart, that’s where the money should go first. I’ve had projects where we fixed up the bones of the house—roofing, electrical, plumbing—and ended up getting better offers than similar homes with just cosmetic upgrades.
Curious how people decide what to prioritize when pulling equity out. Is it mostly about what you want to enjoy while you’re living there, or are folks really thinking resale from the start? Sometimes I wonder if HGTV has warped everyone’s sense of what actually sells a house... I mean, those shows never talk about replacing a sewer line or upgrading insulation, but buyers sure notice when those things are missing.
Ever seen someone actually get a higher sale price just from doing the basics? Or does it just make the place sell faster without much extra profit?
Honestly, I’ve wondered about this too. We tapped our equity last year and had big dreams of a fancy bathroom, but ended up sinking most of it into fixing our old wiring and replacing the roof. Not glamorous, but the peace of mind was worth it. I do think buyers care way more about the “invisible” stuff than HGTV lets on... Our realtor said it made a difference in how quickly we got offers, even if it didn’t add a ton to the price. Sometimes I think you just have to weigh what’ll help you sleep at night versus what looks good in a listing photo.
- Been there—used a HELOC to redo our kitchen, but half the money ended up going to a new furnace and fixing a leaky foundation.
- Not flashy, but honestly, buyers noticed during inspection.
- I’d say it’s worth it if you’re planning to stay put for a while or want fewer headaches down the road.
- The “invisible” stuff never gets you Instagram likes, but it sure saves you stress when things start breaking...
Honestly, this is exactly the kind of thing that’s been stressing me out about buying a place. Everyone talks about kitchen remodels and fancy bathrooms, but then you hear stories like yours—half the budget gone to stuff you never see, like a furnace or waterproofing. I get why it matters, but as someone just starting out, it’s kind of a bummer to think you might spend all that money and not even have anything “new” to show for it.
At the same time, I can’t help but think that if you don’t do those fixes now, you’re just kicking the can down the road. The idea of living with constant leaks or a dying furnace sounds like actual torture. Still, I wonder if borrowing against your home is worth it unless you’re 100% sure you’ll stay put for years. Otherwise, aren’t you just adding risk? It’s tough to balance wanting upgrades with not wanting to be house-poor or underwater on loans...
