6 Home Renovations That Return the Most at Resale

(TNS)—Renovations can make us happier in the places we call home, but some of the most dramatic updates can add real value when it’s time to sell.

Since kitchen, deck and other upgrades can represent a significant cost, it’s helpful to know what kind of return you might expect before you decide to write a check.

“Budget is the No. 1 pain point for most remodeling professionals when they meet with potential clients,” says Clayton DeKorne, chief editor of the JLC Group, a collection of magazines serving building professionals. Since 2002, the organization’s Remodeling, a magazine for the construction industry, has produced the annual Cost vs. Value report, which examines the cost of popular home renovations versus the return on investment (ROI) at resale.

The 2019 Cost vs. Value report compares the average cost of 22 remodeling projects with the value those projects retain at resale in 136 U.S. markets, based on a survey of 3,000 real estate agents and firms. It’s important to note, however, that costs can vary greatly by region based on the cost of labor and materials, as well as the level of service offered by individual remodelers.

In any project, there are the so-called hard costs of labor and materials, but the real value is a combination of personal enjoyment and additional value at the time of a home sale.

“There’s no project on the list that returns lower than 50 percent,” DeKorne explains. “On the lower end of the ROI spectrum are the bigger-ticket projects that have a whole lot of personal selection involved, such as choosing finishes in a bathroom remodeling project. They may or may not translate from one buyer to the next, but there is value in those personal finishes. A homeowner is going to get enjoyment in those things while they’re living there.”

Whether you plan to stay in your house for a long time or just a few years, it’s smart to know which home renovations add the most value. Here are the six home remodeling projects that deliver the highest returns.

Garage Door Replacement
Average cost: $3,611
Average resale value: $3,520
Cost recouped: 97.5 percent

A good-looking garage door tops the list when it comes to getting cash back on your investment when you decide to sell your house, according to the 2019 Cost vs. Value report. The estimate for this job is based on the cost of removing and disposing of an existing 16-by-7-foot garage door (or two-car garage door) and replacing it with a new four-section garage door with heavy-duty galvanized steel tracks, assuming the motorized garage door opener is compatible. This curb-appeal enhancer will get you back almost every dollar you spent on it when you sell your house.

Manufactured Stone Veneer
Average cost: $8,907
Average resale value: $8,449
Cost recouped: 94.9 percent

Replacing vinyl siding with stone veneer on part of your home, such as an entryway, is a big curb-appeal upgrade for your home. For this project, existing vinyl siding is replaced with adhered manufactured stone veneer. This average cost estimate is based on installing 36 linear feet (LF) of sills, 40 LF of corners and one address block, with materials including two layers of a water-resistant barrier, corrosion-resistant lath and fasteners and more. This cosmetic improvement and accent design element is likely to catch the eye of a potential buyer and can allow you to recoup nearly 95 percent of your renovation costs.

Minor Kitchen Remodel
Average cost: $22,507
Average resale value: $18,123
Cost recouped: 80.5 percent

Creating a modern-looking and functional kitchen can add more than just value to your home; it can boost your enjoyment of everyday activities like cooking, entertaining friends and sharing meals with your family. However, potential buyers see the intrinsic value of this kind of upgrade. On average, you’ll recoup a little more than 80 percent of the cost of a minor kitchen remodel. In a remodeling project of this kind, you might replace appliances with new, more energy-efficient models, reface cabinets with new shaker-style wood panels, install new countertops, replace hardware, install a new sink and faucet, add new flooring and repaint.

Deck Addition (Wood)
Average cost: $13,333
Average resale value: $10,083
Cost recouped: 75.6 percent

If you’re lucky enough to own a house with a big yard, having a wooden deck can be an extra enhancement to enjoy the outdoors around your home. The average cost of adding a wooden deck from scratch (estimated based on a 16-by-20-foot deck, including a railing system with pressure-treated wood posts, railings and balusters) is approximately $13,333. But the good news is that this feature, which also includes a built-in bench and planter, can hold more than 75 percent of its value come sale time.

Siding Replacement
Average cost: $16,036
Average resale value: $12,119
Cost recouped: 75.6 percent

Old, dilapidated siding can make even the nicest house look worn-out. For the average home, replacing 1,250 square feet of old siding will cost you just over $16,000 and you’ll get back roughly three-quarters of that investment upon resale. This upgrade includes the factory trim at the openings and corners.

Entry Door Replacement (Steel)
Average cost: $1,826
Average resale value: $1,368
Cost recouped: 74.9 percent

You will recoup nearly 75 percent of your cost by replacing your main entry door with a 20-gauge steel door, complete with clear dual-pane half-glass panel, jambs and an aluminum threshold with composite stop. These doors come factory finished with the same color on the front and back sides.