4 Home Improvements That Pay Off at Resale

When it comes to what home buyers care about, kitchens tend to be top on the list. Overhauling a kitchen, however, can be costly, especially if you have cabinets from the 1980s. Nationally, a major upscale kitchen remodel will set you back about $150,000, but the ROI is just 53.9 percent. Meanwhile, a midrange kitchen overhaul in which you’re shelling out about $75,000 gets you a mere 57.4 percent ROI. What does get you a strong ROI is a minor midrange kitchen remodel that doesn’t cost more than $27,000; with that option, you can recoup about 72 percent of your investment. 

Would-be buyers can live with a move-in-ready kitchen that needs upgrades, knowing that someday they will make it their own. But if it’s already completed and not to their liking, it could be a deal-breaker. “Kitchens are the number one thing people look at,” says Trish Gesswein, director of listing sales at Houwzer. “Most people are interested in having updated kitchens. We are seeing a trend of people painting cabinets and adding backsplashes to keep costs minimal.” Replacing the hardware on cabinets can also modernize an outdated kitchen for budget-conscious homeowners. 

3. Fresh coat of paint

Nothing screams old and dated more than out-of-style paint colors. Sure, you may love florals or bright and bold colors, but buyers may not. That’s why Kurt Clason, owner of Clason Remodeling Co. and chairman of the NAHB Remodelers Council, advises sellers to stick to neutral colors when repainting their home. Buyers want to envision their belongings in the space, and if it’s an off-putting color, that’s much more difficult to do. “People looking to buy a house don’t want to spend time repainting. New paint makes it clean and fresh,” Clason says. If you are a smoker or have pets, purchasing paint with an odor neutralizer can go a long way in getting rid of nasty smells. If you’ve recently painted and have a neutral color, painting the molding is a low-cost way to make your walls pop. 

4. Staging your home

For budget-conscious homeowners, decluttering and cleaning can significantly boost a home’s appeal. Even well-appointed dwellings will benefit from the removal of extra furniture, pictures and other personalized decorations and from scrubbing the floors and walls. If the carpet is old and dingy, consider replacing it. Who knows, under it there may be hardwood floors that require only polish and staining. “These days less is more. People need to envision how their things will look in the home,” Gesswein says. “Make it as clean and clutter-free as possible.”

Things to Do to Add Value to Your Home

Donna Fuscaldo is a contributing writer and editor focusing on personal finance and health. She has spent over two decades writing and covering news for several national outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Investopedia and HerMoney.​