Four home improvements likely to add value (plus three that do not)
If you are looking to increase the value of your home, consider these improvements.
As a homeowner, home improvements are opportunities to make your space just right for you. While any home improvement may make your home better for your personal needs and preferences, these projects range widely in how much they boost the value of a home for homebuyers. If you are looking to sell your home in the coming months or years, here are some changes that can pay off (and that you can enjoy in the meantime).
Replacing doors
Curb appeal is a big driver of value, and sturdy, insulated new doors can be great for enhancing this quality.
In the Journal of Light Construction’s (JLC’s) 2025 Cost vs Value Report, replacing a garage door was the #1 home improvement in terms of value for both New York City and Washington, DC. They found that homeowners in these cities recouped 323.4% and 226.5% of the cost, respectively. Replacing the front entry door was #2 for New York City and #3 for Washington, DC.
New paint, siding, or veneer
Everyone wants to arrive to a home with a clean, attractive exterior. Refreshing the exterior of your home is another improvement that can add value by creating a positive first impression. You can apply a fresh coat of paint, replace siding, or add manufactured stone veneer (a covering that looks and feels like stone to replace some of your existing siding). In JLC’s 2025 Report, manufactured stone veneer was the #3 home improvement for New York City and #2 for Washington, DC. New fiber-cement siding was #2 for both cities.
A minor kitchen remodel
Gut renovating a kitchen can be an especially expensive project. To cost-effectively create the feel of a new, polished space, you can take some or all of these steps as part of a minor kitchen remodel:
- Replace cabinet fronts and knobs
- Replace the cooktop and refrigerator with energy-efficient new models
- Replace laminate countertops
- Install a new sink and/or faucet
- Paint the walls, trim, and/or ceiling
Minor kitchen remodels were the #4 home improvement for New York City in JLC’s 2025 Report.
Replacing an aging roof
Offering protection from the weather plus a lower likelihood of repairs, a durable new roof is a reassuring sight for homebuyers. Replacing a roof that shows signs of age is a costlier undertaking than replacing doors, refreshing your home’s exterior, or doing a minor kitchen remodel, but can also be an opportunity to increase your home’s value.
Home improvements unlikely to add value
- Installing a swimming pool: As much as you might enjoy lounging poolside, a pool may not contribute much value to your property. Homebuyers with small children, for example, may avoid homes with swimming pools for safety reasons. Installing a swimming pool may even increase your monthly expenses through higher homeowners insurance premiums.
- Converting a garage: Think carefully before converting a garage into a den or guest bedroom. Without a garage, your home’s value may actually decrease.
- Elaborate or quirky landscaping: The more deeply customized or high maintenance the landscaping feature, the more difficulty you may have recouping the costs. You might view a koi pond as an oasis of tranquility. Homebuyers, though, will likely be thinking more about the cost of heating the pond and feeding the fish.
Maximize your budget with a balanced approach
To get the most out your home improvement project, look to balance these three factors:
- Value: Will the project increase the value of your home, or at least retain the value that it already has?
- Cost: How much are you willing to spend? If a project looks expensive, are there smaller changes that could be just as impactful?
- Enjoyment: This is no less important, especially if you plan to remain in the home long-term. One of the best things about owning a home is the freedom to customize the home as you wish. Whatever home improvements you envision, consider what you stand to gain in terms of comfort, convenience, and pleasure.
Further learning
Explore some of the key money considerations that can help make your home improvement project a success.
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