Danny Johnson: bad additions cut 20%
- Danny Johnson of Danny Buys Houses said poor DIY work, shoddy extensions, and unauthorized changes can slash resale value by as much as 20%. - His list also flags outdated windows and ugly brick colors, with each potentially knocking about 5% to 10% off buyer appeal. - The bigger point is simple: resale markets reward clean, standard upgrades and punish quirky work buyers expect to rip out.
Home upgrades are supposed to make a place worth more. But the wrong ones can do the opposite — fast. That is the core of Danny Johnson’s warning this week, after the property buyer behind Danny Buys Houses said some “bad additions” can cut a home’s resale value by as much as 20%. The newsy part is the number, but the real story is why buyers react that hard. (express.co.uk) ### What counts as a “bad addition”? Basically, Johnson is talking about work that looks cheap, awkward, or unfinished. He points to poor DIY jobs, bad paintwork, and unauthorized modifications — the kind of changes that make buyers think they’ll need to spend money the minute they move in. That is why the hit(express.co.uk) chance that hidden problems sit behind the visible ones. (express.co.uk) ### Why does DIY scare buyers so much? Because DIY mistakes rarely stay cosmetic. A crooked finish or odd extension raises a bigger question — what else was done badly? If a buyer starts worrying about structure, permits, electrics, or damp, the conversation shifts from “nice house” to “how much discount do I (express.co.uk)ollows. (express.co.uk) ### Are all value hits that big? No — and that matters. Johnson’s own examples break out into smaller penalties too. He says outdated windows can drag value down by roughly 5% to 10%, because buyers expect decent insulation and double glazing. He also flags unattractive brick colors on some older homes as anot(express.co.uk)adline, not the default outcome for every ugly choice. (express.co.uk) ### Why do buyers care so much about windows and brick? Because both are expensive to fix and hard to ignore. Old windows signal higher heating bills and near-term replacement costs. Bad exterior materials hurt curb appeal before a viewing even starts. That first impression matters more than sellers like to ad(express.co.uk)ing expense or a painful renovation queue. (express.co.uk) ### Is this just about taste? Not really. Taste is part of it, but resale value usually gets hit when a home feels too specific or too troublesome. That is why broader market advice keeps landing in the same place: functional, cohesive improvements tend to outperform flashy or overly personal ones. Zillow’s re(express.co.uk), paint, and modest remodels tend to hold up better than expensive changes with narrow appeal. (zillow.com) ### So what should sellers do instead? Keep changes clean, legal, and boring in the best sense. Use professionals for structural or visible work. Fix obvious defects before adding anything fancy. And if you are renovating with resale in mind, prioritize upgrades buyers instantly understand — efficient windows, fresh paint, ti(zillow.com) them easier to pay for. (express.co.uk) ### Does this matter outside the UK story? Yes. The exact examples here came from UK property coverage, but the logic travels well. Appraisals and buyer behavior everywhere tend to punish visible neglect, questionable workmanship, and features that create uncertainty. Markets differ, but “I’ll have to undo this” is a universal discount. (homelight.com) ### Bottom line? The lesson is not “never renovate.” It is “don’t make the next buyer solve your project.” A smart upgrade makes a house easier to imagine living in. A bad addition makes it feel like work — and that is where the 20% haircut starts. (express.co.uk)
