Bathroom Remodel

The bathroom is one of the most trafficked rooms in a home; any updates to this space usually pays off. Bathroom updates can be minor, major, or directed at specific features of a bathroom.

Minor Bathroom Update

This often involves replacing faucets, hardware, lighting fixtures, and/or the toilet. You could also paint the vanity if it’s wood or paint the walls in a fresh color. All of these upgrades could be DIY or completed by a plumber, electrician, or handy man.

Major Bathroom Upgrade

These upgrades include replacing the vanity, expanding the bathroom size, replacing flooring, replacing tile and perhaps changing the tub and toilet.

Master Bathroom Tub Replacement

A growing trend is to replace the bathtub in the master bathroom with a walk-in shower with new shower head and glass enclosure. However, please note that having at least one bathtub in the home can be a necessity for some home buyers. Consider keeping you tub/shower (maybe upgrading it) in the master if that would be the only tub the house. If you have a smaller tub/shower combo in a secondary bath already, go ahead and put that walk-in shower in your master!

Home Additions

Increasing the square footage of a home pays off because buyers (and appraisers) value the additional space. You know the saying “time is money”. In the real estate world- space is money.

Two-Story Addition

This usually entails updating and maybe opening up the main floor; you may consider reconfiguring some of the space for a new, comfortable master suite. You would then want to add a couple bedrooms upstairs, at least one bath, and a bonus room if space and budget allows.

Bedroom Addition

This addition is often a master suite addition. It can give some homes just the right about of added space. Keep in mind that this may not be the right choice for you, however, if you have only steep grade levels around where you’d want the addition. This is because foundation masonry can be expensive if extensive.

Screened-In Porch Addition

Screened-in porches are in very high demand here in the south. They provide extensions to the living space in a home and they are cheaper than adding heated living space. Screen-in porches can be opened up the living room or kitchen on a nice day, they keep the bugs out, and they serve as a perfect space to enjoy the game or a glass of wine. These can really be a huge selling point for a home.

Kitchen Remodel

The kitchen impacts the most in terms of a home's salability; updates to the kitchen are very important and most kitchen upgrades attract massive returns on investment.

Minor Kitchen Remodel

You could make a huge impact on your kitchen just by replacing the cabinets, countertops, and fixtures while keeping the layout and plumbing where it is. There are very affordable cabinet lines out there that make this a possibility with even some of the smallest budgets. Even just replacing your countertops and/or appliances can make a huge difference to your buyers.

Major Kitchen Remodel

This scale of project often includes rearranging the current kitchen plan, expanding the kitchen either within existing square footage or adding onto the home, and replacing all of the old materials. You will want to make sure you hire a general contractor for this work to be sure it gets done properly and in a timely manner. Hiring a design/build firm or separate designer is also quite crucial in making sure you are designing this space to function properly and look attractive for years to come.

Siding Replacement

Hardie siding is a step up from vinyl siding; it offers many advantages over vinyl as the preferred material for a home's siding. For starters, it is more durable and offers greater curb appeal. Although it cost more than vinyl, it offers greater ROI than a vinyl upgrade.

Energy-Efficient Windows

New windows improve not just the look but the functionality of the home. Windows account for up to 30% of the energy used for heating and cooling a home. Installing new windows with energy-efficient features like multi-paned glass, Low-E glass and gas infused panes will reduce energy costs significantly. The average ROI for installing new windows is about 73%.

Top Home Updates That Pay Off

When homeowners think of upgrading their homes, they usually have two reasons in mind. They want to make it more enjoyable and they also want to improve its resale value.

To achieve these two objectives, homeowners must be careful which updates they implement. As Dawson Management points out, not all updates will improve the owner’s enjoyment of a home and its value equally.

To help property owners get the most out of their renovation efforts, we created this list of the top home updates that pay off. These are the upgrades that are almost certain to return a significant portion of the property owner’s costs when they sell their homes.