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Top 12 Home Improvement Projects That Add the Most Value
Home improvement projects can be productive, fulfilling ways to spend your spare time. But, they can also be costly ventures that end up being more trouble than they’re worth. Your invested time, money, and energy matter, and some upgrades don’t offer the return on investment you expect. U.S. News Real Estate explains it this way:
“. . . not every home renovation project will increase the resale value of a home. Before you invest in a swimming pool or new addition, you should consider whether the project will pay itself off by getting prospective buyers in the door when it’s time to sell.“
Like most projects, home improvement is best tackled when you’ve done all the planning beforehand. That’s why it pays to know the cost of your project, and how much it might increase your home value. Whether you have plans to move or not, strategizing to find the best project will pay off in the long run.
How Preparation Pays Off
If you’re planning to move soon, starting early can make a valuable difference. And if you’re not, you’ll still be glad you planned ahead when life’s surprises get in the way. If your moving timeline changes, you won’t want to shell out extra for rushed projects on short notice.
By doing home updates now, you can work at your own pace, saving yourself headaches and money later on. You’ll also have time to enjoy the updates you make to your home before you decide to move. And when you do move, you’ll rest easier knowing there’s no laundry list of work left before you list.
What Buyers Really Want
Your first step is choosing a project that will increase your home’s appeal to buyers at selling time. So if you’re not sure what projects are worth your time and money, new industry data can help. A recent study from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows the top upgrades offering the best return on investment (ROI).
As the graph above shows, the top home improvement projects that add the highest (estimated) value are as follows:
- New Steel Front Door – 100% return on investment.
- Closet Renovation – 83% return on investment.
- New Fiberglass Front Door – 80% return on investment.
- New Vinyl Windows – 74% return on investment.
- New Wood Windows – 71% return on investment.
- Basement Conversion to Living Area – 71% return on investment.
- Attic Conversion to Living Area – 67% return on investment.
- Complete Kitchen Renovation – 60% return on investment..
- Minor Kitchen Upgrades – 60% return on investment.
- Bathroom Addition – 56% return on investment.
- New Primary Suite – 54% return on investment.
- Bathroom Renovation – 50% return on investment.
If you’ve already been thinking about a high-ROI project on this list, that’s great news. There’s a good chance it’ll improve your living quality now and increase your home’s value in the long term.
But remember that this list is based on national data using averages from listings sold nationwide. The most in-demand improvements that buyers will pay for depends largely on your local real estate market. That’s where talking to a local agent can help, as an article from Ramsey Solutions explains:
“The best way to gauge what you can expect in terms of resale value on home improvements—especially if you’re planning to sell soon—is to talk to a real estate agent who is an expert in your market. They’re sure to know the local trends, and they can show you how other homes with the features you want to add are selling. That way, you can make an educated decision before you start ordering lumber and knocking down walls.”
At the same time, be careful not to overdo it on home improvements. An excess of upgrades can raise your home’s price right out of the local market. And while that may sound ideal, it can make your listing unattractive to the buyers in your area. This is another area where a local agent can help you choose the best projects for your specific market.
Conclusion
Whether you have moving plans on the horizon or not, making thoughtful, deliberate home improvements can be valuable. Even if you have no intention to move, updates give you more reasons to love and enjoy your house. And, of course, the home value increases that high-ROI projects offer are bound to pay off in the future.
Have you been considering a particular home upgrade but aren’t sure if it’s worth it? Contact us today to connect with an agent who can give you the best advice for your unique area.
Are You Waiting To Buy? This Spring May Be Your Time To Move
Between low inventory, high home prices, and unpredictable mortgage rates, 2024 was a rocky year for real estate. It should come as no surprise then that 70% of buyers stopped their home search last year. If you were one of them and are still waiting to buy in 2025, this spring could be your time.
The Drive of Housing Inventory
Many homeowners who put their move on pause last year are reentering the market this year. This means higher, stronger listing inventory, and with builders finishing more homes, new construction inventory is growing as well. Together, this creates more options for buyers like you, and better chances of finding the home you’ve waited for.
But that’s only part of the story. When you’re selling, you want to feel confident that you’ll find a home you’ll be thrilled to move into. At the same time, you don’t want housing inventory so high that your current house sits on the market. Fortunately, the spring 2025 market is striking a balance between supply and demand that many have waited for.
According to research from Realtor.com, housing inventory has jumped 28.5% year-over-year, making March the 17th straight month of inventory growth. This is still below pre-pandemic levels in most markets, but it’s a sweet spot for anyone waiting to buy.
For patient buyers, this means you’ll have more options when moving, but not so many that your current house won’t sell. As long as there’s a healthy demand for homes in your area, your house should still sell relatively quickly. Especially if you work with a local agent to make sure it’s priced right and fixed up to maximize value.
The Sweet Spot: More Options and Steady Demand
Here’s another promising point to think about. As we said, Realtor.com‘s March 2025 data shows that housing inventory has been rising for 17 consecutive months. What’s better, industry experts agree that listing inventory is likely to continue climbing through 2025. According to Lance Lambert, the Co-Founder of ResiClub:
“The fact that inventory is rising year-over-year . . . strongly suggests that national active housing inventory for sale is likely to end the year higher.”
If this prediction proves correct, this spring may be a better time to sell than you think. Listing now could help your house may stand out more than it would later in the year as inventory grows. With more homeowners reentering the market, waiting too long could make it all the more difficult to stand out.
Conclusion
If you’re one of the many who have been waiting to buy a house this past year, here’s your chance. Housing supply is growing but hasn’t caught up to demand yet, meaning new listings are still getting extra buyer attention. Meanwhile, increasing inventory is giving current homeowners more opportunities to scale up, further driving supply and activating buyers.
For both first time buyers and homeowners waiting to sell, this spring’s market is trending toward an ideal sweet spot. If you have questions keeping you from making your move, reach out to us for answers today. We can get you the info you need, or connect you with an agent to navigate your unique local market.
Here’s the Next Best Time To Sell Your Home This Spring
Back in March, Realtor.com reported that the best time to list your house in 2025 was April 13–19. With that week now behind us, you may be wondering if you missed your chance this year. Fortunately, you still have plenty of time, if another source’s prediction holds true this spring.
Realtor.com may be one of the biggest property search sites, but others have their own data, studies, and methodologies. This means that they sometimes receive different results and reach different conclusions. This means that they sometimes receive different results and reach different conclusions, which may be good news for you. Because according to Zillow, the ideal spring house selling window hasn’t passed yet.
Reports on the Best Spring Selling Period
New research from Zillow has found that sellers who list their homes in late May tend to see higher sale prices. Based on home sales from 2024, homes listed in May had the highest sale premium of about $5,600. According to Zillow‘s study:
“Search activity typically peaks before Memorial Day, as shoppers get serious about house hunting before their summer vacation and the new school year in the fall. By targeting late spring, sellers can get their home listed when the most shoppers are looking. When more buyers are competing for homes, sellers can command a higher price.”
But Zillow isn’t the only one declaring May as the best time for home sellers to list. Using data from 59 million home sales over the past 13 years, ATTOM Data completed a similar study. In this case, it was found that sellers who list in May net an 11.1% higher closing price on average.
“Freshly compiled sales statistics from ATTOM demonstrate that home sellers continue to reap significant benefits from listing their properties during the month of May. Examination of home sales trends spanning thirteen years reveals that, on average, sellers are commanding 11.1 percent premium above the estimated market value.”
Meanwhile, a report from Bankrate states that listing at any time in April or May is ideal. In fact, it found that homes listed in May on average sell for about 13.1% above market value:
“Some patterns and trends usually do hold true throughout the year, and one is that spring continues to be the best time to sell. Sellers can net thousands of dollars more if they sell during the peak months of April and May. . .”
If these reports are accurate, then there’s still time to list during peak home selling season. Closing your home sale in May could get you a sizable increase in your final sale price.
Of course, the best week to list your house ultimately depends on your own local real estate market. Prices are driven by buyer demand and home supply, and these can vary wildly from market to market. This is why working with an experienced local agent can be so helpful, especially in uncertain markets.
Conclusion
Even though Realtor.com‘s recommended spring selling window has passed, other sources say there’s still plenty of time this year. Spring is always a busy time in real estate, and you can take advantage without listing during a specific week.
The true best time to sell your house will be determined by your own unique local market this spring. Working with an agent can help remove some of the guesswork, and get you the best closing price possible.
Get Ready: The Best Time to List Your House This Year Is Coming Soon
If you’re waiting for the best time to list your house this year, then wait no longer. Experts have looked at the data, and the best week to list your house in 2025 is almost here.
A recent study from Realtor.com analyzed years of housing market trends and found that April 13–19 is expected to be the best week this year to list your house:
“. . . we’ve identified April 13-19 as the best week to list for sellers . . . a seller listing a well-priced, move-in ready home is likely to find success. Because spring is generally the high season for real estate activity and buyers are more plentiful earlier rather than later in the year, listing earlier in the spring raises a seller’s odds of a successful sale.”
Why Is This the Best Time?
Spring is typically a strong season for sellers and when the housing starts to really take off every year. But according to Realtor.com, this window could be particularly advantageous in 2025 thanks to a few key factors. Here are the biggest influences that make April 13-19 the ideal week for new listings:
- More potential buyers are looking at your home since demand is usually highest in the spring and summer every year.
- A faster, easier sale since many serious, committed buyers are eager to move before summer.
- Higher chances of getting the best offer. According to Realtor.com, you could get $4,800 more on average this week, and $27,000 more than earlier in the year.
Want Your House Listed at the Best Time? Start Now
Only a couple weeks are left before the year’s prime listing week, but you can still make the deadline. If you’ve been planning to list for a while, a smart plan and quick action can make it happen. This is where working with a great local real estate agent can make all the difference between selling and not. An expert agent can help you:
- Figure out exactly what you need to do to get your home ready to list and, eventually, sold.
- Prioritize the tasks to make the biggest impact on your listing and chances of selling in the shortest time.
- Identify any quick fixes or easy upgrades to help you attract as many potential buyers as possible.
If your house is already in good repair and condition, your focus should be on quick, value-adding updates. The idea is to eliminate any potential dealbreakers for interested buyers, as Investopedia says:
“You won’t have time for any major renovations, so focus on quick repairs to address things that could deter potential buyers.”
With the April 13-19 window fast approaching, the quicker you can finish these projects, the better. Here are some small projects recommended by Redfin you can do that can make a big difference to interested buyers:
What if You’re Not Ready to List?
If you don’t think you’ll be ready to list before this windows passes, then don’t worry. Even though Realtor.com expects April 13–19 to be the best time to list, it’s not the only good time to sell. What’s most important is getting your home ready to maximize its attractiveness to buyers when you do decide to list. Even if you list a bit late, there’s still plenty of opportunity before prime homebuying season is over.
Conclusion
If you’ve been waiting for just the right moment to sell, April 13-19 could be the perfect time. Realtor.com projects this as the best time to list your house this year, but there’s a bit more to consider. Making sure your home is fully prepped and priced competitively for your local market can make the difference.
Ready to list but need a real estate agent’s advice and expertise first? Reach out today and we’ll connect you with a local expert who can help you list and sell your home fast.
