Tackling the Top 5 Home Improvement Projects with the Highest Returns

Guest article by Lisa Ash

There are a lot of ways you can improve your home and make it more valuable for a buyer, but some of the home improvement projects you might consider won’t give you a good return on investment.

If you want to get a lot of your money back when you sell, your home improvement ROI needs to be high. But which project(s) should you choose? Should you hire a professional or do things yourself?

Here are five of the top projects that can give you the highest returns for the time and money you’ll spend, whether you do them yourself or hire a professional instead.

1. Siding Replacement

If you switch out what you have now for new fiber cement siding, you’ll get most of the money you spent back when it comes time to sell your home. Fiber-Cement siding gives your home a great new look, comes in a lot of colors, and is extremely durable. This siding will hold up to the elements for many years, so it’s a good investment for a homeowner and a way to raise the value of the home for a potential buyer, as well. While this is not an inexpensive remodeling option and is best left to the professionals, the benefits of fiber cement siding can be worth the price.

2. Kitchen Remodel

Remodeling your kitchen is almost always a great way to raise the value of your home and make it more appealing to buyers. Additionally, a kitchen remodel is usually worth the investment because it gives back most of what you’ll spend on it in a higher resale value.

A minor remodel can help, but a more moderate remodel is often required in order to really see the value of your home rise. This can include choosing new appliances and fixtures, putting down new flooring, and changing out the countertop. While much of that can be done in a DIY fashion, hiring a professional can make things faster and easier.

3. Landscaping

The curb appeal of your house is a big deal for a buyer and having good curb appeal can mean that a buyer will pay more for your home. That curb appeal could also help your home sell faster and is often listed as one of the top things sellers should tackle when getting their home ready to list for sale with their local REALTOR®.

You can have a professional create a beautiful landscape for you, or you can do it yourself. With so many options for different landscaping ideas, you can create nearly any look in your yard. Keeping things simple and easy to maintain is a good idea when landscaping your home for curb appeal and for sale, as buyers will see that they can keep up the yard without a lot of time and effort.

4. Garage Door and/or Entry Door Replacement

When you replace your garage door with an upscale design, and when you replace your entry door with a quality option and paint it a bright or cheerful color, your home will stand out to buyers. That’s good news for selling your house, and it can give you back a high percentage of the money you spent on the doors.

Since doors need to line up properly and work correctly, hiring a professional to make these changes is usually a good idea. It’s faster, easier, and can easily reduce your stress or aggravation with the job while making your newly landscaped home look great from the curb and up close, as well.

5. Bathroom Remodel

Like remodeling a kitchen, remodeling a bathroom is a great way to raise the value of your home and get a high return on your investment. New fixtures and features are always good choices, and homeowners who provide a spa-like feel to their remodeled bathrooms tend to have more success in getting their money back when they sell their home.

Generally, hiring a professional is a good idea when remodeling a bathroom. There are plumbing and electrical issues that need to be addressed, and not all homeowners are comfortable with these aspects of their remodel.

By focusing on five projects with the highest home improvement ROI, you can make sure you spend your money wisely and improve your home’s resale value at the same time.

Author: Lisa Ash, REALTOR® & Listing Specialist with the Homes by Ash Real Estate Team of Keller Williams Realty Integrity NW [www.HomesbyAsh.com]

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