Realtors rate most effective home-improvement projects
Realtors from across the country have rated several home-improvement projects that will not only add value to your home but will recoup most of their costs upon resale. The 2015 Cost vs. Value Report helps owners decide if a project is worth the time and financial investments.
“Deciding to take on a home-improvement project can be overwhelming for many homeowners, especially if they are trying to choose a project that will give them the biggest bang for their buck,” said Jonathan Moore, 2015 president of the Arkansas Realtors Association.
“Realtors know what features will be most attractive to potential buyers, and this report provides homeowners with that insight,” he said.
Curb appeal has always been important, so it makes sense that the Top 5 remodeling projects from the 2015 Cost vs. Value Report that will give you the highest return on investment are all smaller, exterior improvements.
• Steel entry door For the second year in a row, Realtors have named the steel entry door the No. 1 home-improvement project when it comes to seeing a return on your investment. It is also consistently the least expensive project in the report, costing about $1,200 on average. Installing a steel entry door was also the only project on this year’s list to recoup more than 100 percent of its cost at resale on a national level.
• Manufactured stone veneer This decorative building material is made to replicate the look of natural stone for a substantially lower price. This is the first year that manufactured stone veneer has appeared in the Cost vs. Value report. On average, such a project will cost about $7,150 and will recoup 92.2 percent of your investment.
• Garage-door replacement Upgrading your garage door can update the entire exterior of your home, not to mention enhancing its curb appeal.
“The garage door is one of the first things a potential buyer will see,” Moore said. “It is part of the first impression your home gives, so it is important that it looks its best.”
A midrange steel garage door averages $1,595 and will recoup 88.4 percent of your investment.
• Fiber-cement siding
This high-end siding is resistant to termites, rot, moisture and fire. It is also incredibly stable and does not flex, meaning you’ll save money on less-frequent repainting. The average cost of this project is $14,014, and you can expect a return on investment of 84.3 percent.
• Wood-deck addition An outdoor entertaining space is a large draw for many homebuyers. A deck provides a large amount of living area, and at $30 per square foot, the cost of installing a deck is only a fraction of the cost of an indoor addition. The average cost for this project is $10,048, and you will recover 80.5 percent of your investment.
Before taking on any of these projects, it is important to remember that all real estate is local. According to the ARA, every neighborhood is unique, and the popularity and resale value of a specific remodeling project vary from community to community.
“This is why it is so important to work with a Realtor,” Moore said. “Realtors have unparalleled knowledge of local market conditions and can help you decide which projects will deliver the most return on investment in your area.”
The 2015 Cost vs. Value Report is published by Remodeling magazine publisher Hanley Wood, LLC and is conducted in collaboration with the National Association of Realtors. Additional data from the report can be found on the NAR’s consumer website, www.HouseLogic.com.
House to House is distributed by the Arkansas Realtors Association. For more information about homeownership in Arkansas, visit www.ArkansasRealtors.com.
Deciding to take on a homeimprovement project can be overwhelming for many homeowners, especially if they are trying to choose a project that will give them the biggest bang for their buck.”