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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.
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.
Selling Your Home? Avoid This Mistake When Setting Your Asking Price
When selling your house, the typical goal is to sell quickly at the best price possible. Naturally, ever since home prices took off around 5 years ago, most sellers have been aiming high. But housing inventory is making a comeback, and some sellers haven’t considered what this shift means for their asking price. As a result, buyers are becoming choosier, and price cuts on overpriced listings are increasing alongside home supply.
According to February 2025 data from Realtor.com, home price cuts this February reached their highest number since 2019. That’s the highest number of price cuts in 6 years, and a real return to pre-pandemic market levels.
Given that 2019 is considered the housing market’s last normal year, this demonstrates a major, substantial shift. The market is finally starting to normalize, and may quickly break out of the post-pandemic slump it’s been stuck in.
However, this is a distinctly different trend from the hot seller’s market of 2021 and should be treated differently. You may not sell your house for top dollar like you would have at the pandemic’s peak, but that’s okay. By setting a smart asking price and tempering your expectations, you can still sell quickly, and at a great price.
You may be planning to price your listing high and cut it later if necessary, but this has its drawbacks. Pricing too high and lowering later means you may actually end up with lower offers in the end. Pricing right the first time is the best way to avoid this, and a local agent can make the difference.
How a Local Agent Can Find Your Perfect Asking Price
A true expert real estate agent doesn’t set an asking price without good reason. These agents consider real data and trends unique to your market, setting a price specific to your home. This way, you set a realistic price based on your home’s true value to attract as many buyers as possible.
Depending on your local market and your agent’s analysis, they may even recommend strategically pricing slightly below market value. While this may sound counterintuitive, it can be a strategic move to attract more attention to your listing, earning you more competitive offers. Here are a few ways a local agent will determine the best price for your listing:
- Researching recent home sales. What price did homes similar to yours finally sell for? Were these homes initially listed higher before dropping in price to sell?
- Analyzing local market trends. The true value of your home isn’t based on the price you’d like to sell it at. It’s the price that potential buyers are willing to pay. A local agent will have a strong idea of this number based on experience.
- Strategizing to sell. A great agent will price your home to attract attention, creating a sense of urgency among buyers and increasing demand.
How Overpricing Your Home Can Backfire
Unfortunately, some sellers still ignore their agent’s advice and prefer to start high just to see what happens. The hope being maybe they get their full asking price, or they at least have more wiggle room for negotiation. But pricing high usually ends up costing you, and here’s why:
- Buyers may ignore it. The market’s past few years – and the direction it’s headed – have made buyers more budget-conscious than ever. If a home listing looks overpriced, buyers are more likely to ignore it and move on than consider negotiating.
- It could stay on the market too long. The longer your home sits on the market without selling, the more buyers will assume something is wrong with it. This can make it harder and harder to sell as time goes on, and makes a price cut almost inevitable.
- You may sell for less in the end. Price cuts often lower a listing’s final selling price below its best, most realistic market value. Listing at the right price to begin with gives sellers the best chance of selling quickly at a great price.
The graph below demonstrates how these factors play out in the market. Using data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), it shows how time on the market lowers final selling price.
According to the data, if a house sells within its first 4 weeks after listing, it usually sells for full price. Homes that are priced at or just below current market value typically sell quickly in this same window. When a home is priced right, it attracts truly interested buyers who are willing to buy at your asking price. In a hot market, buyers may even compete with other buyers, or even make an offer above your listing price.
On the other hand, a home that’s overpriced will take longer to sell, if it sells at all. As the graph demonstrates, after that first 4 weeks on the market, final selling price starts to drop. And as buyer interest declines over time, the more likely a seller will accept a low offer, or cut their price.
Conclusion
The housing market is normalizing thanks to increasing housing inventory, causing price cuts to rise with increasing buyer power. For sellers, setting the right asking price is more important than ever, and overpricing could make your listing sit on the market. Advice from a local agent can help you avoid this mistake and sell quickly without having to lower your price.
Interested in selling but need help pricing your home for your local market? Get in touch with us today. We can connect you with a local agent who can sell your home at the best 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.
The Spring 2025 Housing Market: 4 Things To Expect
Spring is in full swing, and the spring 2025 housing market is swinging along with it. Wondering whether now is the right time to finally buy a house or sell your home? Here are four trends you can expect in the market this year, and what they mean for you.
1. More Homes on the Market
After years of housing shortages nationwide, the number of homes for sale is finally improving. According to recent national data from Realtor.com, active home listings are up 27.5% compared to this time last year. Housing inventory took a tremendous dive in 2020, but at long last, it’s close to reaching pre-pandemic levels this spring.
The graph below shows monthly active listing count for each year dating back to 2017. As you can see, even though inventory levels still haven’t quite returned to pre-pandemic norms, they’ve improved over last year. In fact, they’re almost at 2020 levels, and will likely exceed them this summer if their upward trend continues.
For Buyers: More housing inventory means you have more options and choices. Having options means you can be more selective, and that sellers may be more willing to negotiate with you.
For Sellers: With more homes available, you’re more likely to find the right house to move into. With inventory still below normal levels, your current home will stay in higher demand, at least until home supply normalizes.
2. Home Price Growth Is Slowing
As inventory increases, the rate of home price growth is slowing down as prices respond to buyer demand. This will continue through the spring 2025 housing market and beyond into 2026 if the current trend holds steady. With more homes for sale, eager buyers are less pressured to compete for limited inventory. Price growth will continue to slow as supply rises and buyers enjoy more options, but it will generally remain positive. A recent projection from Freddie Mac says:
“In 2025, we expect the pace of house price appreciation to moderate from the levels seen in 2024, while still maintaining a positive trajectory.”
Every housing market is different, so while home prices are rising nationally, this may not be true everywhere. Some markets are actually seeing stronger price growth, while others are slowing or even seeing home prices decline.
For Buyers: Slower home price growth means prices aren’t rising as quickly as before. Still, any home you buy now is likely to appreciate in value over time, helping you build equity.
For Sellers: Home prices are still rising, but you may need to temper your expectations in terms of pricing your home. Pricing too high in a more competitive market could mean your house takes longer to sell. Listing at a price point competitive with your local market is going to become a key factor as prices normalize.
3. Mortgage Rates Are Falling and Stabilizing
One of the biggest obstacles for buyers – especially new ones – since the pandemic has been higher, less predictable mortgage rates. Fortunately, rates have been slowly stabilizing so far in Q1 of 2025, and have even dropped faster than experts anticipated. These aren’t the 3% rates of 2020, but less volatile rates give buyers more reason to buy with confidence. As Chief Economist at CoreLogic Selma Hepp says:
“With the spring homebuying season upon us, the recent improvements in mortgage rates may help invite homebuyers back into the market.”
For Buyers: When mortgage rates are stable, planning ahead is easier because your future payments are likely to be more predictable. But keep in mind that even though mortgage rates are stabilizing, they’re still far from being completely static. When buying, consult your agent and lender to stay current with rates and how they might affect your plans.
For Sellers: Lower rates starting to stabilize means more buyers are becoming active – especially those who have been patiently waiting. This means increases in housing demand and more potential interested buyers for your house.
4. More Buyers Are Entering the Market
With more inventory, slowing price growth, and stabilizing mortgage rates, buyers are gaining confidence and finally reentering the market. Demand is increasing, and recent data from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) shows an uptick in mortgage applications compared to the start of the year.
For Buyers: The spring 2025 housing market buying season is quickly heating up. Making your move now and getting a leg up on your competition could be a wise strategy this spring.
For Sellers: Eager buyers wanting to buy a home in the spring or summer are entering the market quickly. Naturally, this is great news for you: more buyers means a better chance of selling your home fast.
Conclusion
Between more homes for sale, slowing price growth, and stabilizing mortgage rates, there’s plenty reason to be positive this spring. Buyers can expect higher housing inventory at more reasonable rates, while sellers can count on a busier market with more activated homebuyers. If you’re wondering how this spring’s trends might affect you, contact us today to get started with an expert agent in your area.
What’s Your Real Home Value in the 2025 Market?
If you’ve checked home prices in the past few years, you know too well that they’re always rising. But if you’re a current homeowner, have you considered what this might mean for your own home value? It may be that your home is worth far more than you think in 2025.
While rising prices are expected, the home value increases of the post-Pandemic housing market have been dramatic. And if you’re a seller waiting to list, this could mean a huge payoff when you finally close. If you’re eager to know much your own house could sell for, finding out is easier than you think.
The Post-Pandemic Home Value Launch
Home prices typically rise around 2-5% per year, but in 2021-2022 that number rose to double-digit levels. In the spring of 2022, year-over-year percentage growth finally peaked at over 20% nationally. The sheer number of buyers in the market during this time sent home prices soaring as housing supply lagged. And though price growth has settled since then, the home value accrued by homeowners in that time remains.
The lingering effects of that volatile period have caused difficulties for buyers, but they’ve also produced great opportunities for sellers. There’s a good chance your house has gained tremendous value since then, and that means more wealth for you.
The map below references data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to illustrate that home prices have risen by nearly 60% in just the past 5 years alone nationally. The most extreme increases have taken place in states marked with a darker blue, like Maine, New Hampshire, and Florida.
If worries about today’s rates and prices have stopped you from selling your home, let these numbers reassure you. Your home’s risen value may be exactly what you need to close the affordability gap and purchase your next house.
Even better, if you’ve owned your home for 10 years or more, your value is likely even higher. You can stack the incredible gains of the past five years on top of five years of healthy appreciation too. And an agent can help you figure out what that really looks like.
How To Find Out What Your House Is Really Worth
Percentages will help you ballpark an estimate, but you need specific numbers to make real, actionable decisions. To help, you can get a free home valuation estimate from us right now using the tool below. You can even sign up for a full valuation report.
Home valuations can be great tools, but only a local real estate agent can give you the best, most accurate look at your house’s real market value. An agent will know the state of your local housing market and the factors driving it. They can provide insights about current housing inventory, pricing of comparable homes, and unique contributors to value like renovations.
By knowing what’s happening where you live, an agent can stack their market knowledge against the unique condition and features of your home and give you an accurate estimate of your home’s current value in your area.
Conclusion
Home values have taken off in just the past few years, and that’s great news for current homeowners. Knowing what your house is worth in today’s real estate market will help you plan your next move. A local agent can give you a great idea of how much your home might realistically sell for.
If you’re a homeowner considering a move, get your free home valuation from us at Century 21 Affiliated now. Ready to sell? Reach out now and we’ll connect you with a local expert real estate agent who can get your house sold.
