Some upgrades better than others

The experts all agree — the upgrades that give you the most bang for your buck when it comes to resale are kitchens, ensuites and main-level flooring.

“(They) are the top three areas that tend to give the best return on investment and what most purchasers tend to invest in,” says Minto’s Anthony Minchella, although he notes that a larger issue to keep in mind is the lot size and location.

While everyone will have an opinion about what works and what doesn’t, choose function over cosmetic and neutral over unusual, says author Katherine Salant in The Brand-new House Book: Everything you need to know about planning, designing, and building a custom, semi-custom, or production-built house.

“If you have a yen for the exotic, exercise it with your furnishings, not your house.”

And if your budget is tight, the one area where upgrading almost always pays off is the kitchen, says designer Linda Nolan. “You can’t really lose on investing in a kitchen.”

Think upgraded cabinets, tall uppers, pot drawers, valance lighting, larger island. Focus first on those elements that are difficult to change later.

Counters and backsplash, although important for resale, can be done afterwards.

After that, replace any main-floor carpeting with hardwood. In the ensuite, the big thing is glass showers with a tile base, free-standing vanities that look more like furniture, vessel sinks and quartz counters, says Cardel’s Jenny Black.

Colour is also important. Choosing neutral finishes and colours will have maximum appeal, notes Ryan MacDougall of Uniform Urban Developments.

“If a buyer selects timeless elements, classic finishes, custom components that could serve anyone — then the value holds.”

That’s what Dominik Rozman and Alexandra Dicks went for in choosing their finishes, which are based on a grey palette with hints of brown.

“We wanted something not just that would look good for us and the colours that we like but we wanted something that would appeal to someone else,” Rozman says.