7 Home Amenities You Don’t Need… Really

Home renovation TV shows have begun to skew reality for many home buyers and owners. It’s easy to get wrapped in the fantasy of a dream home, but is it actually worth the cost? Before you write the check for a new home amenity, reflect on how often you will actually use them.

Here are 7 home amenities you won’t use:

Home Gym
The logic makes sense, if you have a gym in your home you’ll surely use it because you won’t have to drive to the gym. Only a very few people actually use their home gym. Outside of upfront costs, you’ll also face the cost of keeping your gym updated. After about a year most of your equipment will feel outdated. If you routinely do at home workouts a home gym may be a good fit for you but it’s not worth it for most homeowners.

Basement Bar
A bar in the basement may make some sense if you regularly host game day parties, but more times than not, the bar down there will end up collecting dust and be just one more thing you need to clean. Sit down and think about the parties you’ve hosted, how many of them have been in your basement? It sounds like a fun idea but with a hefty price tag and low resale value your basement bar dreams aren’t a practical reality.

Kitchen Desk
A kitchen desk offers visions of meal planning, easy access to recipes and a place for the kids to do their homework. However, most kitchen desks end of becoming a place to stash clutter. It’s an easy place to drop mail and notes from school. Before you know it you won’t be able to find your recipe books let alone have space to sit down for meal planning. With laptops and tablets as the norm you can set up shop to work at your kitchen island or dining room table with no problem. Save the kitchen real estate and say no to a kitchen desk.

Outdoor Kitchen
An outdoor kitchen may sound like a summertime haven, but as with many things it will likely end up collecting dust -- and in this case leaves. Most families find it a challenge it simply eat any meal together, let alone make a big fuss out of one. And with a huge price tag to build an outdoor kitchen, it’s better to invest in a quality gas grill instead of going for the whole shebang.

Form Over Function Bathrooms
Bathroom features such as pedestal sinks and open shelves may look nice, but where are you going to keep the toilet paper or other toiletries. In real life bathrooms are home to a lot of items you don’t want others seeing. Install a sleek vanity with drawers or cabinets. Instead of shelves above the toilet consider a shallow shelf or forgo hanging something there altogether if you are able to install a medicine cabinet. Storage is key when it comes to your bathroom. Style plays second fiddle.

Whirlpool Tub
Only the most committed bath takers will shake their head here. If you can’t remember the last time you took a bath then you won’t change your tune after installing a whirlpool tub. It sounds nice in theory to come home from a workout or a long day at the office and relax in a swirl of jets, but they reality is they are not used. Jet tubs are often noisy, don’t accommodate bubbles and will drive up your water bill -- not to mention they are expensive. If you are looking for luxury in the bathroom consider investing your shower.

Oversized Stove
Do you cook elaborate meals often enough to warrant the need for 6 or 8 burners? An oversized stove top may come in handy during the holidays, but in your day to day life most of your burners will sit unused, taking up valuable kitchen real estate. Invest in a high quality, standard sized stovetop instead.

Making the decision to install luxury amenities in your home today affects your resale value tomorrow or 5 years from now. Schedule a consultation today to get advice on how to get the most bang for your buck on home renovations.