2 projects pay off most in home sales

Roofing and flooring improvements can yield the biggest returns for homeowners, according to the 2017 Remodeling Impact Report from the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

The report found that refinishing wood floors can return 100 percent of the cost when the home is resold. A new roof can return 109 percent.

The study compares contractors' estimated costs with Realtors' estimates on how much projects add to home value.

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This study, like one done by Remodeling magazine, concluded that usually, the more expensive the project, the lower the return on investment. A master suite addition, for example, returns about 52 percent of its $125,000 cost, while a new garage door returns 87 percent of its $2,300 cost. found that homeowners 55 and older spend nearly twice as much on bathroom renovations as do owners under age 35.

Showers are the biggest splurge, the study found. More than half of homeowners decide to increase their shower size and 27 percent remove their tub altogether.

White remains the color of choice in renovated bathrooms for both walls and cabinets, followed by gray in a distant second, according to the survey. rents keep rising in central Ohio.

Surveys by the listing sites Abodo, ApartmentList and Zumper all show that Columbus-area rents have risen during the past year. Estimated increases range from 3.4 percent (ApartmentList) to 12.5 percent (Zumper).

Despite the increases, central Ohio rents remain far lower than national averages.

All three surveys say San Francisco continues to be the most expensive city in the nation, with median monthly rents for a one-bedroom ranging from $2,450 to $3,480.