6 Pandemic Renovation Trends to Avoid, According to Real Estate Agents

Last spring, when the coronavirus pandemic grounded much of the world to a halt, our homes suddenly became our offices, classrooms, daycares, yoga studios, gyms, bars, restaurants, hobby spaces, and so much more.

With this extra time at home — and with so many places we used to visit in a typical week shuttered — a lot of us have been tempted to tackle home renovation projects to maximize our homes’ functionality.

But which pandemic-inspired renovation trends will actually end up being duds in a few years? When this all passes and we get back to normal (whatever “normal” looks like), will we still want a tricked-out yoga room or a meticulously landscaped backyard? Before you start drawing up blueprints and ordering supplies, consider this advice from real estate pros on pandemic renovation projects to avoid. 

Though it’s still a wise investment to renovate your kitchen, keep in mind that not all buyers will love your hyper-personal aesthetic or style. Brightly colored or trendy statement appliances, for instance, may make cooking at home more fun, but they might also turn off some buyers in the future, says Betsy Ronel, a New York-based real estate agent.

With more time on our hands than ever before, some of us may have attempted home renovation projects ourselves that we would’ve otherwise contracted out to a professional.

While going the DIY route (perhaps inspired by the latest TikTok trends) seems like a good way to save money, it may come back to bite you when you sell your house. Sure, a fresh coat of paint or a straightforward lighting fixture swap is fine, but leave the biggies to the pros.

“The pandemic created a lot of ‘do-it-yourselfers,’ for better or worse,” Ronel says. “One project that should not be done by homeowners is anything that’s electrical or plumbing. Tiling, unless you are completely meticulous, also should be done by a professional.”

With gyms closed for much of the year, we all had to adapt our workout plans, and for many people, this meant building out an extensive home gym.

Having a gym at home is great for your health and well-being, but it’s probably not going to offer a great return on investment when you sell your house, says Tony Mariotti, a real estate agent in Los Angeles.

“Working out with others is really motivating and I see people returning to group physical activity or simply going to the gym as soon as they can,” he says. “These home gyms will just collect dust and be a waste of money.” 

This was the year of outdoor spaces since they were safer than hanging out indoors with anyone who wasn’t in your “pandemic pod.” But the pandemic also created some quirky supply chain issues that could have ripple effects on your home renovation. One example: A lumber shortage means that the price of wood building materials has skyrocketed recently.

If you’re thinking of building a deck (or redoing an existing one), consider pressing pause on the project, at least for a while, to get the best bang for your buck.

“Adding or redoing a deck usually adds value to your home and can boost the price when the time comes to sell it,” says Beatrice de Jong, a Los Angeles-based real estate agent, and consumer trends expert for Opendoor. “But because of a severe lumber shortage, the price of lumber actually doubled during the pandemic, which means you likely won’t see a return on the money spent on materials. If you can hold off, then waiting for the lumber price surge to pass is best.”

Homebuyers are definitely still keeping work-from-home setups top of mind during their house hunts, but you should resist the urge to go overboard with built-in desks and workstations throughout your house. 

Eventually, there may come a day when we go back into the office and the classroom more regularly — and these pandemic holdovers will feel outdated and overdone, says Annalisa Peña, a real estate agent and interior designer in Portland, Oregon.

“While working from home and distance learning is the new normal, I wouldn’t suggest investing in built-in desks or work stations in every room,” she says. “Buyers and homeowners still envision their bedrooms as spaces to rest and be calm at the end of the day.” 

You also may have been tempted to splurge on building a pool in your backyard while public pools and beaches were closed during the pandemic. But pools have notoriously low ROI compared to the cost of installing and maintaining them, so you may want to think twice.

“A pool — particularly an above ground — can be a detriment to a future home sale. Losing yard space to a pool is not something the majority of buyers will view as a positive,” says Amy Owens, a real estate agent in Montclair, New Jersey.

You can typically expect an ROI of around 15 to 30 percent (maybe a bit higher in warm climates). Though if you’re planning to stay in your home for a long time, a pool may still be worth it. 

The same rings true for any pandemic-inspired renovation you want to pursue — it’s good to keep ROI in mind, but also remember that it’s your home and you should feel happy and comfortable there. If you can afford a renovation project and you know you’ll get a lot of joy and use out of it, factor that into your decision as well.

“Our primary residences are more than just an investment, it’s our safe haven where we build memories with our loved ones, and that’s priceless,” says Mina Garrett, a real estate agent in Los Angeles.