If you’re looking to help your clients to identify which projects to tackle before putting their home on the market, look no further: the National Association of Realtors surveyed thousands of real estate agents, industry professionals, and consumers on interior and exterior house remodeling projects — these are the best projects for upping a home’s value before listing it on the market, ranked on the most value and cost recovery a homeowner can get.
Refinishing hardwood floors. Start from the bottom to earn top dollar. Refinishing floors transform a home from worn-out and aging to vibrant and inviting, and only costs about $2500 according to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). The project also increases a home’s value by that same amount, meaning a homeowner can recover 100 percent of the costs. Pretty sweet deal.
Upgrading insulation. Because it’s what’s inside that counts. This project costs about $2100 based on NARI Remodeler’s estimate, and increases a home’s value by $2000 according to Realtors surveyed. That’s a 95 percent cost recovery.
Adding new wood floors. If you don’t have wood floors to refinish, add them in! This costs about $5,500 according to NARI Remodelers, and the increased sales value is $5000–a homeowner can recover 91 percent of costs from a new wood floor addition.
Replacing HVAC system. A new HVAC system adds energy efficiency and refreshes the entire home, and NARI Remodelers estimate doing so costs $7000. The increased value for sellers is $5000 according to NAR REALTORS, meaning an easy breezy 71% cost recovery for homeowners.
Converting a basement into a living area. Not only is this cost and space efficient, it’s also undeniably trendy. A basement makeover costs about $36,000 according to NARI Remodelers estimate, and increases value for sellers by $25,000 according to Realtors surveyed. That comes out to a cost recovery of 69 percent.
In case you’re curious, these are some of the most expensive remodeling projects:
New master suite. More like master $$$uite — this costs about $112,500 with a cost recovery of 53 percent.
Converting an attic into a living area. Cute idea, but also a $65,000 one with a 61 percent cost recovery. One might say the price is through the roof.
Complete kitchen renovation. This project costs an estimate $60,000 with a 67 percent cost recovery. Even more if you want to throw in a brick oven, and you probably do.
New bathroom. With an estimated cost of $50,000 and a 52 percent cost recovery, make sure you aren’t flushing money down the drain with your bathroom addition!
These trends change over the years, so make sure your knowledge is up to date locally since we all know local trends trump national. Hopefully today you’ve garnered some ammo to help clients better understand how to improve their home’s value!
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