{"id":10118,"date":"2025-01-22T04:00:53","date_gmt":"2025-01-22T12:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=10118"},"modified":"2025-12-01T02:47:51","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T10:47:51","slug":"improve-home-value","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/improve-home-value\/","title":{"rendered":"Looking to Improve Home Value? Avoid These Projects With Terrible ROI"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Celebrities who perform dramatic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/cost-of-gutting-a-home-and-remodeling\/\">home makeovers<\/a> on TV and the average homeowner on Main Street live in two very different worlds. One has the budget of a reality show to foot the bill for materials and labor, and the other has whatever\u2019s in their bank account and tight profit margins. To successfully improve home value, it&#8217;s essential to identify which projects are truly worth the effort and investment.<\/p>\n<p>So halt your plans for a $50,000 chef\u2019s kitchen and luxurious master suite inspired by <em>Fixer Upper<\/em> until you know all the facts. When the purpose of your project is to improve <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/home-value-estimator\">home value<\/a> and boost the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/how-to-set-list-price\/\">asking price<\/a> at resale, it\u2019s smart to spend less on several smaller cosmetic improvements rather than one or two major room overhauls.<\/p>\n<p>More importantly, you need to remove your personal bias from design decisions or risk turning off buyers from your custom taste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"geo-cta widget-cta widget-cta--content     widget-cta--dark widget-cta--dark-blue-gradient\">\n    <div class=\"widget-element--content\">\n        <div class=\"widget-element--content-header\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"homelight logo\" class=\"widget-element--logo\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/ccprototypev5\/images\/logo-small-cta.png\" width=\"106\" height=\"25\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n        \n                <h3 class=\"cta-headline widget--bold\">Upgrading Your Home? First, See How Much It's Worth<\/h3>\n                        <p>HomeLight can provide a preliminary estimate of home value in as little as two minutes.<\/p>\n        \n                <div class=\"widget-element--buttons\">\n            <a data-type=\"In Content CTA\" href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/simple-home-value\/quiz?#\/qaas=0\/\" class=\"cta-click-track widget-element--button\">Request Home Value<\/a>\n        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen a seller updates the home based on personal preferences, there\u2019s probably a 70% or 80% chance you\u2019re going to make the wrong decisions,\u201d advises <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/agents\/cleve-m-gaddis-ga-238775\">Cleve Gaddis<\/a>, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/johns-creek-ga\/top-real-estate-agents\">top-selling agent in Johns Creek, Georgia<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA professional agent has a complete understanding of what current buyer preferences are, so they can tell you where to spend money to appeal to the largest number of buyers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s take a look at some of the most popular pricey projects that have the lowest return on investment (ROI) and the wiser, low-cost upgrades that offer a bigger bang for your buck. <div id=\"section--1\" data-toc-header=\"Top home features, according to HomeLight survey\" data-toc-type=\"head\"><\/div><\/p>\n<h2>Start with what HomeLight\u2019s data says about top home features<\/h2>\n<p>Our <em>Top Agent Insights for End of Year 2024<\/em> report surveyed over 750 leading real estate agents nationwide, uncovering the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/real-estate-top-agent-insights-for-end-of-year-2024\/\">features that have become the hottest selling points<\/a> in today&#8217;s market. Here\u2019s what buyers are seeking, as agents noted:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Updated kitchens and appliances:<\/strong> 88%<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Enhanced curb appeal, outdoor, and garden spaces:<\/strong> 48%<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Home offices or remote work areas:<\/strong> 38%<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Luxurious primary bathrooms: <\/strong>36%<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Energy-efficient features: <\/strong>9%<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Real estate agents estimate that certain updates can significantly boost a home&#8217;s value. For example, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/how-much-to-remodel-a-kitchen\/\">kitchen remodel<\/a> can add an average of $28,826 to the value of a median-priced home. Even smaller updates yield remarkable returns: a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/what-color-should-i-paint-my-house\/\">fresh coat of paint<\/a> could increase your home\u2019s value by $10,184, and thorough <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/declutter-to-sell-house\/\">decluttering<\/a> could net an additional $11,706.<\/p>\n<p>However, while these features are undeniably appealing to buyers, not every improvement guarantees a high ROI. For instance, embarking on a full-scale kitchen or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/how-much-to-remodel-a-bathroom\/\">bathroom overhaul<\/a> may not always be the wisest financial decision.<\/p>\n<p>These projects are not only extremely costly but there\u2019s also the risk that your design choices may not align with the tastes and preferences of potential homebuyers.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, consider which projects will balance buyer appeal with profitability. Simple upgrades like painting, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/backyard-improvements-that-add-value\/\">landscaping<\/a>, and minor renovations often deliver the highest ROI without breaking the bank.<\/p>\n<p>The key to adding value lies in strategically investing in the right projects, those that resonate with buyers and pay off in the end.<\/p>\n<p>Using our own data and other credible sources, such as The Journal of Light Construction (JLC) and top real estate agents in the HomeLight network, we put together this list of basic do\u2019s and don\u2019ts when it comes to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/which-renovations-increase-home-value\/\">home renovations<\/a>. <div id=\"section--2\" data-toc-header=\"Dos and don\u2019ts of home renovations\" data-toc-type=\"head\"><\/div><\/p>\n<h2>1. DON\u2019T: Drop big bucks on a full kitchen renovation<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re in a house built more than a decade ago that\u2019s never been remodeled, you\u2019re living with an outdated kitchen. And if you\u2019ve spent any time cooking in it, chances are you\u2019ve imagined ripping it out more than once.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/prepare-your-home-for-sale\/\">Prepping to sell the place<\/a> may seem like the perfect time to invest in finally making that dream kitchen come true, but it may shock you how much that dream will cost.<\/p>\n<p>According to JLC, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jlconline.com\/cost-vs-value\/2024\/\">major kitchen remodeling project costs $79,982<\/a>, but would only recoup 49.5% of the cost. And if you make that major kitchen renovation without consulting an agent, you\u2019ll likely spend more money than necessary on the wrong design choices.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne of my clients chose all of her own upgrades, and the combination of the countertop with the backsplash couldn\u2019t have been worse if she had intended to pick the worst,\u201d recalls Gaddis.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt took an extra three months to sell the home, we wound up having to change out the backsplash, and she spent twice as much on the upgrades as she should\u2019ve in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10137\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10137\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10137\" src=\"https:\/\/hl-blog.homelight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/improve-home-value-kitchen.jpg\" alt=\"A kitchen with improved home value.\" width=\"700\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/improve-home-value-kitchen.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/improve-home-value-kitchen-64x37.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/improve-home-value-kitchen-128x73.jpg 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/improve-home-value-kitchen-192x110.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/improve-home-value-kitchen-432x247.jpg 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/improve-home-value-kitchen-500x286.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10137\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: (Jose Soriano\/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>2. DO: Give the kitchen a less than $5,000 makeover<\/h2>\n<p>The truth is, Gaddis\u2019 client could have achieved the look of a fully remodeled kitchen by spending just a few thousand dollars on the right items.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you\u2019re improving the kitchen, you\u2019ll never get your money back by changing out the cabinets,\u201d advises Gaddis. \u201cInstead, just do cosmetic fixes like painting the existing cabinets, changing out the cabinet hardware, and replacing the countertops with granite.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Replacing the countertop, perhaps already the most expensive part of this minor kitchen makeover, costs an average of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homeadvisor.com\/cost\/cabinets-and-countertops\/install-countertops\/\">$3,155<\/a> only. The final cost depends on the material, edging, and backsplash options you choose.<\/p>\n<p>Install those countertops and repaint the cabinets for as little as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thumbtack.com\/p\/cost-to-paint-kitchen-cabinets\">$425 to $1,460<\/a>. Then invest as little as $500 in replacing the sink, faucet, and cabinet hardware. The kitchen will look like a full remodel for less than $5,000.<\/p>\n<p>According to JLC, a minor, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jlconline.com\/cost-vs-value\/2024\/\">midrange kitchen remodel can cost up to $27,492<\/a>, and you&#8217;ll be able to recoup 96.1% of your costs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When the purpose of your project is to improve home value, it\u2019s smart to spend less on several smaller cosmetic improvements rather than a showy makeover.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":52991,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[320,333,330],"tags":[780,735],"class_list":["post-10118","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-add-value","category-increase-value","category-house-value","tag-how-to-increase-home-value","tag-what-makes-property-value-increase"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.0 (Yoast SEO v27.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Looking to Improve Home Value? Avoid These Projects With Terrible ROI<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"When the purpose of your project is to improve home value, it\u2019s smart to spend less on several smaller cosmetic improvements rather than a showy makeover.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/improve-home-value\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Looking to Improve Home Value? 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