10 Home Upgrades That Don't Add Much & 10 Easy Ones That Make It More Expensive
Spend Your Money Wisely
Home upgrades can make your day-to-day life nicer, and there’s nothing wrong with doing work simply because you’ll enjoy it. Selling a house, though, is a different goal entirely. Unfortunately, buyers may not pay extra for every expensive choice you’ve made. Big additions and custom finishes can cost a small fortune, while simpler jobs can help a home look clean, current, and well cared for. The best resale projects usually make a house easier to picture living in, not a projection of your personal tastes. These 20 upgrades show where homeowners often spend too much and where a few smart changes can help a home sell for more.
1. Primary Suite Additions
A large primary suite can make a home much more comfortable, especially if the current bedroom feels cramped or doesn’t have its own bathroom. Unfortunately, the upscale version only gets back about 18% of what it costs.
2. Solar Panels
Solar panels can help lower energy bills, and they can be a great fit if you’re planning to stay in your home for a while. They only return about 30% of their cost when you sell. You’ll get more out of them by using them over the years instead of putting them in right before listing.
3. Midrange Primary Suite Additions
A midrange primary suite costs less than a high-end one, yet it’s still a major build. It gets back about 32% of what you spend on it. You’re still paying for new square footage, plumbing, roofing, wiring, and permits.
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4. Bathroom Additions
Adding a bathroom can make family mornings much easier, especially when everyone’s trying to get ready at the same time. An upscale bathroom addition gets back about 36% of its cost. Fancy tile, custom cabinets, high-end fixtures, and extra plumbing work may end up costing more than it’s worth.
5. High-End Kitchen Remodels
A high-end kitchen can look beautiful and appealing to potential buyers. Still, this major project only gets back about 36% of its cost. Buyers may love the finished look, though they won’t always pay enough to cover every premium feature you chose.
6. Accessory Dwelling Units
An accessory dwelling unit can give you a separate space for guests, family members, or renters. It gets back about 41% of its cost. Building a complete extra living space takes a lot of work, including the basics people don’t always think about until the project starts.
7. Bathroom Remodels
A fully redone bathroom can feel like a real treat when you’re living in the house, but you only get back about 42% of its cost. Buyers may enjoy the new vanity, flooring, shower, and lighting, though they’ll still look at the whole home before deciding what it’s worth.
8. Large Backyard Patios
A large patio is a welcome addition to any home, especially if you have the space for it. It gets back about 46% of what it costs, though, and can take up a rather large amount of space.
9. Metal Roofs
Sure, a metal roof can be durable and useful, especially if your current roof needs to be replaced. That said, it gets back about 50% of its cost. You’ll still have a strong, practical upgrade, though it won’t raise the selling price as much as some smaller exterior projects can.
10. Major Midrange Kitchen Remodels
A major midrange kitchen remodel skips the highest-end materials, yet it still comes with a large price tag. It gets back about 51% of its cost. If the kitchen layout already works, you’ll often get more from a smaller update that freshens the room without tearing everything out.
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1. Replacing The Garage Door
A worn garage door can make the whole front of a house look older than it really is. Replacing it can return about 268% of what it costs. It also gives buyers a better first impression.
2. A Steel Entry Door
A new steel entry door can make the front entrance look cleaner, safer, and better maintained. It can return about 216% of its cost, and it’s a much easier upgrade to handle.
3. Refreshing The Kitchen
A minor kitchen remodel lets you keep a layout that works while updating the parts buyers notice first. New cabinet fronts, hardware, counters, flooring, appliances, and paint can return about 113% of their cost. You’ll get a fresher kitchen without paying for a full demolition and rebuild.
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4. Painting The Interior
Fresh paint makes a home look clean and ready for new owners, especially when the walls have scuffs, nail holes, or other marks. About 32% of sellers paint their interiors before listing. You’ll be surprised how much better a room can look once the old marks are gone.
5. Freshening The Exterior Paint
Peeling trim and faded siding can make buyers think the house hasn’t been looked after. A fresh coat can help the home look cleaner in photos, at showings, and for first impressions.
6. Painting The Front Door
A front door can look much better with new paint, polished hardware, and clearly indicated house numbers. Surprisingly, homes with black front doors get higher offers than similar homes without them. You don’t need a major makeover to make the entrance feel more put together.
7. Updating A Bathroom
You don’t have to rip out every tile to make a bathroom look better. New vanity lights, fresh caulk, updated hardware, and a reglazed tub can help an older space feel newer. More than one-quarter of sellers make bathroom improvements before listing, and these smaller changes are a good place to start.
8. Repairing Or Refinishing Floors
Scratched hardwood, stained carpet, and loose flooring can distract buyers from everything else the house has going for it. Twenty percent of sellers repair or replace flooring before listing. You may only need a deep clean, a few repairs, or a refinishing job to make the floors look good again.
9. Adding Smart-Home Basics
A smart thermostat, video doorbell, smart lights, or a simple security system can make a home feel more current without a huge renovation. Thirty-six percent of buyers consider smart-home features highly important in their search. You’ll want to keep the setup simple, so the next owner can use it without dealing with a confusing system.
Sebastian Scholz (Nuki) on Unsplash
10. Tidying The Landscaping
Overgrown shrubs, weeds, cracked walkways, and clogged gutters can make buyers think about chores before they even reach the front door. Landscaping is one of the most common projects people take on before listing. You’ll make the whole property look better maintained by trimming, cleaning, and fixing the basics.
