The 5 Best Home Improvements to Add Resale Value
Dusty Rhodes • March 2, 2020
Whether you’re planning to sell your home this year or a decade from now, remodeling projects can improve both the resale value and the appearance of your home. But it’s challenging to know which upgrades are worth the investment and which are a waste of time and money.
Here are a few home improvement projects to consider that are almost certain to improve your resale value and the look of your home.
1. Minor Kitchen Remodel
Kitchens in older homes weren’t designed to be as functional as they are today. If you’re still cooking in a kitchen that pre-dates your birth, a minor kitchen remodel might be just the thing to make you love the culinary arts again, all while increasing the value of your home.
Upgrade your appliances with energy-efficient models, replace outdated cabinets with newer options, and redo your counters. The average return on investment for a minor kitchen remodel is 81 percent, with the average cost of the project coming in at around $21,000.
Always over-budget for your project. It doesn’t matter what you decide to replace or upgrade—remodeling projects will pretty much never cost less than you anticipate. You can make choices to save money, but in the end, you will almost always end up spending as much or more than you expected.
2. Wooden Deck Installation
Adding a deck to the back of your home gives you a great place to throw a barbecue, host an outdoor dinner, or even install a hot tub so you can enjoy the outdoors without getting dirt on your feet. It is also a great way to add value to your home, as long as you choose a design made of wood instead of one made of plastic or composite. A wooden deck will cost you an average of $10,500 to build, but most homeowners recoup 85.4 percent of that cost—one of the largest returns on investment that you’ll find on this list.
If you do choose wood, make sure that you’re ready to sand and refinish it periodically to ensure that you can enjoy your deck without worrying about you or your guests getting splinters.
3. Garage Door Replacement
When was the last time you replaced your garage door? An old or out-of-date garage door doesn’t just damage your home’s value—it can be downright dangerous. While they were made safer in 1993 when a law was passed mandating that all garage doors be equipped with an auto-reversing feature, they’re still the biggest and heaviest moving object in your home.
On average, you’ll spend around $3,600 to replace your garage door and all the associated equipment, but you’ll reclaim nearly all of that in value for your property. The ROI for a garage door replacement is an astonishing 97.5 percent, in addition to making your home safer while improving the property’s value and curb appeal—all in one neat package.
4. Update or Add a Bathroom
Older homes might only be designed with a single bathroom, but if you’ve got more than two bedrooms, you’ll be hard pressed to sell a home that’s only got one bathroom. Depending on where you live, adding a new bathroom to your house can give you a return on investment of anywhere from 50 to 70 percent. It might not sound like much, but for someone who is shopping for a new home, that extra bathroom could mean the difference between choosing your property or passing it over for another option.
You don’t even need to add a full bath—one that includes a bathtub, shower, toilet, and sink. A three-quarter bath, which includes a shower but not a bathtub, can save money while still providing the kind of return on investment you’re looking for. As long as your home has at least one bathtub, you’re good to go.
5. Siding Replacement
The exterior of your home has a lot to do with your property’s value. They say you never get a second chance at a first impression. And for a potential buyer, the exterior is that first impression. Upgrading or replacing your siding is like giving your home a facelift. Replacing the siding on the entire exterior of your home will usually cost around $14,000, but you will usually recuperate between 77 and 80 percent of that cost in terms of increased property value.
Don’t pick crazy colors or things that will make your home stand out from all the other houses on your block. Part of curb appeal is making sure your home looks like everyone else’s. You can certainly make it stand out in other ways, but don’t opt for choices that are too bold (like neon green siding). That will end up costing you money.
All Around Wins
It doesn’t matter if you’re planning to sell your home next week, next year, or in the next decade—or if you don’t plan to sell it at all and are just improving your property value because you’re going to refinance—these projects can increase your home value while making it more comfortable for you in the long run. Enjoy your new upgrades.
Dusty Rhodes Properties is the Best Realtor in Myrtle Beach! We do everything in our power to help you find the home of your dreams. With experience, expertise, and passion, we are the perfect partner for you in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We love what we do and it shows. With more than 22 years of experience in the field, we know our industry like the back of our hands. There’s no challenge too big or too small, and we dedicate our utmost energy to every project we take on. We search thousands of the active and new listings from Aynor, Carolina Forest, Conway, Garden City Beach, Longs, Loris, Murrells Inlet, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island, and Surfside Beach real estate listings to find the hottest deals just for you!
Share
If there was one simple step that could help make your home sale a seamless process, wouldn’t you want to know about it? There’s a lot that happens from the time your house goes under contract to closing day. And a few things still have to go right for the deal to go through. But here’s what a lot of sellers may not know. There’s one part of the process where some homeowners are hitting a road bump that’s causing buyers to back out these days. But don’t worry. The majority of these snags are completely avoidable, especially when you understand what’s causing them and how to be proactive. That’s where a great agent (and a little prep) can make all the difference. What’s Causing Some Buyers To Back Out The latest data from Redfin says 15% of pending home sales are falling through . And that’s not wildly higher than the 12% norm from 2017-2019. But it is an increase. That means roughly 1 in 7 deals today don’t make it to the closing table. But, at the same time, 6 out of 7 do. So, the majority of sellers never face this problem – and odds are, you won’t either. But you can help make it even less likely if you know how to get ahead. You might assume the main reason buyers are backing out today is financing. But that’s actually not the case. The most common deal breaker today, by far, is inspection and repair issues (see graph below):
You’ve got big plans for 2026. But what you do this year could be the difference between a smooth sale and a stressful one. If you’re thinking of selling next spring (the busiest season in real estate), the smartest move you can make is to start prepping now. As Realtor.com says : “If you’re aiming to sell in 2026, now is the time to start preparing , especially if you want to maximize the spring market’s higher buyer activity.” Because the reality is, from small repairs to touch-ups and decluttering, the earlier you start, the easier it’ll be when you’re ready to list . And, the better your house will look when it’s time for it to hit the market. Why Starting Now Matters Talk to any good agent and they’ll tell you that you can’t afford to skip repairs in today’s market. There are more homes for sale right now than there have been in years. And since buyers have more to choose from, your house is going to need to look its best to stand out and get the attention it deserves. Now, that doesn’t mean you have to do a full-on renovation. But it does mean you’ll want to tackle some projects before you sell. Your house will sell if it’s prepped right. And you don’t want to be left scrambling in the spring to get the work done. Because here’s the advantage you have now. If you start this year, you’ll be able to space those upgrades and fixes out however you want to. More time. Less stress. No sense of being rushed or racing the clock. Whether it’s fixing that leaky faucet, repainting your front door, or finally replacing your roof, you can do it right if you start now. And you have the time to find great contractors without blowing your budget or paying extra for rushed jobs. Get an Agent’s Advice Early To figure out what’s worth doing and what’s not in your market, you need to talk to a local agent early. That way you’re not wasting your time or money on something that won’t help your bottom line. As Realtor.com explains : “Respondents overwhelmingly agree that both buyers and sellers enjoy a smoother, more successful experience when they start early. In fact, a recent survey reveals that, for sellers, bringing a real estate agent into the process sooner can pay off significantly. ” A skilled agent can tell you: What buyers in your local area are looking for The repairs or updates you need to do before you list How to prioritize the projects, if you can’t do them all Skilled local contractors who can help you get the work done And having that information up front is a game changer. To give you a rough idea of what may come up in that conversation, here are the most common updates agents are recommending today, according to research from the National Association of Realtors (NAR):
From the first coat of paint you used to freshen up your house’s trim to the stress of wrangling your way to a deal, you’ve been through a lot in that place. Now you’ve made it to the final hurdle of selling a home: moving out! Don’t worry, this is the easy part… but you want to do it right. Here’s how to get through the last leg of your journey without any bumps along the way. How to move out on time Once the paperwork is signed at closing, the buyers will officially own the house—and you won’t. That means that, technically, if you or your stuff is still there after the close, “the buyer could evict you,” says Joshua Jarvis , founder of Jarvis Team Realty in Duluth, GA. So make sure to have your exit strategy in place! Still, most buyers will understand if you need a bit more time and have a legitimate reason—like if you can’t move until the weekend due to your work schedule. Just be sure to discuss these issues as soon as possible before the close, so your buyers can plan accordingly. Decide what to leave behind To make sure you’re leaving behind everything the buyer wanted—and that you agreed to—double-check the closing documents . There should be an itemized list of what comes with the house . And even if the buyers didn’t formally request them, it’s just good form to leave certain types of things behind. Such as? “Generally speaking, you should leave anything that’s bolted to the wall,” says Jarvis. “Some homeowners want to take their fans and blinds to the next home, but generally if it’s screwed in, it stays.” Also, if you and the buyers agreed to transfer any services—such as alarm monitoring or pest control —be sure to set that up before you go. Leave the buyers a detailed note in the house, or ask your agent to get in touch with theirs to make sure the transfer goes smoothly. If you do inadvertently take an item that the buyers had requested, they have the right to ask for it back—and they could potentially sue you in civil court for the cost of a replacement. So, when in doubt, feel free to check with the buyers before you grab and go. But don’t leave anything else behind Just as important as what you leave behind is what you don’t. Your buyers have a right to move into a home that’s been cleared of furniture and other movable items they didn’t expressly request. “Some folks leave all kinds of unwanted clothes, furniture, paint cans, and other items, thinking they are helping the buyers,” Jarvis says. If you truly think your buyers might love to have your old planting pots or kiddie equipment, go ahead and ask—but please don’t assume they’ll welcome your leftovers. Even if you’re careful, you might forget something—at which point the buyers may contact their agent to get it back to you, but they also have the legal right to just keep or get rid of it. So double-check areas (e.g., the attic, garage, basement, storage shed, kitchen, and bathroom drawers) where people commonly overlook items. Clean up It’s common courtesy to leave the place not only clear of your possessions but also clean. However, that doesn’t mean you have to leave it immaculate. “Generally, you shouldn’t have to pay to have it deep cleaned,” Jarvis says. In most cases, a simple broom-clean will do. That means wiping down the countertops, cleaning out drawers, sweeping or vacuuming all the floors, and giving the bathroom and kitchen appliances a once-over so the new owners aren’t grossed out when they arrive. Are you forgetting anything? Before you close the door for the last time, run through a quick checklist. Did you eyeball every room for stray items? Have you forwarded your mail and turned off the utilities? Is the water running in the jacuzzi? We all get in a bit of a rush even in the best planned moves, but you won’t be able to get back in, so it can’t hurt to do a final run-through before you move out. Once you’re ready, it’s time to leave. You can drop a line to your real estate agent to let them know you’re out, although it’s usually a courtesy more than a necessity. If you’re feeling truly gracious, feel free to leave a note, card, or bottle of bubbly congratulating the people who’ve inherited your former home. Given all the fond memories you’ve built between those walls, wouldn’t it be nice to start the home’s new owners off on the right foot? And buy yourself some Champagne, too. Make it the good stuff—you’ve earned it.
