Real-estate agent Nancy Raddohl has seen the ugly side of home improvements done wrong. Worse still for home sellers hoping to impress Raddohl’s buyers, her customers have witnessed the alleged improvements, too. “A buyer’s first impression is ‘I don’t want to go any further’ into the house. They won’t get beyond the front entrance,” she said. And her candor is a zinger through the heart of Wilkes County NC homeowners who may think their handiwork is up to professional snuff. Quality upgrades can add value to a home, but shoppers are easily turned off by badly executed projects. The listed price can drop accordingly.

Of course, this deflates do-it-yourselfers who puff their chests in pride at a job well done. So what if drywall seams show or spacing between bathroom tiles is a little off? To buyers, however, any glitch is a big deal. Even little errors may cause buyers to turn tail to the next property. Their perception is the seller’s reality: If one thing is wrong, are other problems far behind? Homeowner mistakes can be pounced on by real estate agents and contractors. Raddohl won’t hesitate to make poor work a negotiation point to shave thousands off the listed price. Using the example of an amateurish countertop, she said she would advise buyers to press the issue. Remodeling contractors are equally keen to benefit from improvements gone bad. If a bathroom project goes down the drain, a contractor knowing the homeowner is over a barrel for needed repairs may be less inclined to negotiate and can charge top dollar.

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