When I help buyers find a home they will often hear me refer to a home as being “maximized.” For the most part this means that every opportunity to make additional living space, a better kitchen, updated baths, and cutesy finishes has been taken. What sometimes surprises them is that I think this is a bad thing.

You see, if you buy a home and hold it, your home will simply appreciate at the rate that property appreciates in that market. If you buy a home that has already been maximized, that is what you will do. If you buy a home that has some simple needs, ugly wallpaper, needs a little sprucing up in the kitchen or bath, and you do that work, then your property will appreciate not only as much as the others around it but also exponentially based on the sprucing up and improvements.

Think about buying Mums. You want to pick a plant that looks healthy, has a nice pot, a nice color but has not fully bloomed. You want to get the most out of that plant.

Now, not all investments in a home return exponentially, or more than they cost originally, but most simple updates requiring more sweat than equity do.

So as you shop for a new home, and you walk into one that has been maximized, have a look around and get some ideas. They did all the things you should do to the “Grandma House” that I will hope we uncover in our search.

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