do blinds increases basis in house?

Question

Does replacing window blinds increase my basis in my house if the replacement blinds were the same as those replaced? The old ones were 20 years old, Ive been here 2 years. I keep track of capital improvements to correctly calculate my gain, if there is one, when I eventually sell. Im not selling now so this isnt preparation for a sale. Does replacing blinds increase the basis? How about adding ceiling fans, dimmer switches, painting? I assume new (better) lights and adding dimmers is a yes, painting is a no, and blinds are a ???
Thanks for any expertise.

Answer 1

Typically, any improvement that is removable would not increase the basis, so I'd think blinds are not a capital improvement.

I find it unusual that you are calculating to such detail your basis on what I presume to be your personal residence. Unless your gain is greater than $250,000 when you sell your house you will not incur capital gains tax.

Answer 2

Not an accountant/CPA, but...

From what I understand, by timing these things with improvements, you stand a better shot of lumping them in as overall improvement, vs repair/maintenance. Thus, may not help you on these - hopefully, an accountant will answer - but in the future, I'd do these things when doing something more major.

E.g., I recently had a new ceiling light and fan put in where there was no outlet (improvement), which caused the need for repaint as well, so lumped it all together under improvement.

Answer 3

I don't think that replacing blinds in a house would qualify as an improvement. Therefore, it wouldn't increase the basis of the house. Plus, in my opinion, the other items that you described would be repairs as well.

You will probably get a bunch of different answers on this subject.

The link below has some guidlines on what are improvments according to the IRS.

Answer 4

Since they're generally attached to the property they must stay put when you sell, so I'd add the cost to the basis.