4 Home Design Trends That Could Cost You

One of the best aspects of homeownership is that you can change your house any time you want—budget permitting, of course. You have the power to spruce up your digs in a major way. Planning renovations, additions and updates is a great way to keep your relationship with your home interesting over the years. After all, what’s the fun in a house that looks exactly the same as the day you bought it?

But buyer, beware. Not all home design trends are cost-effective. Some affect how sellable your home will be later, while others boost insurance premiums. Besides comparing homeowners insurance quotes online before you make any major changes, be sure to think ahead about the potential consequences of any design projects you tackle.

Vertical Gardening

While houseplants and potted trees are this year’s hottest trend indoors, some homeowners are taking their outdoor greenery skyward. Elaborate landscaping is in, in part because it boosts the curb appeal of your home. But make sure that your green thumb doesn’t start a project that quickly grows out of control.

Ivy, while gorgeous and stately, can actually damage the exterior of your home. As Today’s Homeowner points out, ivy is an ill-advised addition to old brick homes, wooden and vinyl siding and stucco. What starts out as a summery ivy trellis can quickly become a structural disaster if the vines work their way into crevices or around delicate materials.

A Decked-Out Home Office

More people than ever are working from home. Some people decide to graduate from a desk area to a designated room just for work purposes, often to qualify for the home office tax deduction. Sometimes designing your dream in-home office is what inspires you to take your career to the next level. But it’s not always that simple.

For instance, do you have clients visiting your home? Do you visit clients? Is your office chock full of expensive specialty equipment? Your homeowners insurance policy may no longer be enough to serve your needs; you may need to raise the policy limits (thus boosting your premiums) or even take out small business coverage. If something happens and you file a homeowners claim for losses related to your home-based business, your insurer could reject the claim or drop you altogether, as Entrepreneur writes.

Feature-Packed Pools

Remember when pools were either rectangles in the ground or circular structures above ground? Now they’re fancier, complete with an array of shapes and eye-catching water features. As nice as a pool is during the sweltering summer months, a potential buyer may not share your vision. The extra cost plus the safety hazard may cause them to keep looking.

Pools are also a huge risk, insurance-wise. Be prepared for a boost in premiums if you install a pool-centric paradise in your backyard, and make sure your new watery wonderland complies with all local laws so you can get coverage in the first place.

Over-the-Top Kitchen

You just had to have those granite countertops. And the double oven. And the hand-tiled mosaic backsplash. Kitchen renovations, while costing a pretty penny up front, tend to elevate the cost of your home for buyers when you do eventually decide to sell. Your next-door neighbor’s house with a similar floor plan may be thousands cheaper because it has fewer bells and whistles, prompting buyers to head there instead.

Want to see where you stand? Explore homeowners insurance quotes online with CoverHound today!