Small Upgrades Recoup Bigger Returns

Less is generally never more when it comes to real estate, but homeowners do get a bigger bang for their buck when it comes to pre-sale improvements.

The recent Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report showed that it was small remodels and upgrades that had the biggest return on investment. The top projects included replacing front doors (specifically steel), stone veneer, and siding – all of which recouped more than 100 percent of the costs. These three improvements also ranked particularly high in the Sacramento area as compared to national figures (138.4 return on investment for steel door replacement as opposed to 101.8 percent nationally).

Other projects that paid off well regionally included window replacements (94.9 percent return on investment), wood deck additions (98.1 percent), basement remodels (92.7 percent) and minor kitchen remodels (83.2 percent).

The report is produced annually by Remodeling Magazine in cooperation with the National Association of Realtors and the Realtor Magazine.