Renovations and remodeling an existing structure is a tried and true method to increase the value of buildings and property. When you’re investing for profit, you want the best possible return on any renovations, to ensure what you spend gets returned to you in the maximum amount of increased value.

What are the best places in a home to focus renovations efforts? It turns out, kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms are highly lucrative areas of the home to spend money to remodel and update if you’re looking toward the property value benefits. When it comes to what buyers look for, kitchens and bathrooms, with their suites of built-in appliances and plumbing fixtures, are very prominent. For this reason, if the budget is limited, focusing it on the kitchen or bathroom, rather than spreading it around the entire house in very small tweaks, can yield the best benefit. In the kitchen, appliance upgrades are easy but valuable. For bathrooms, updating the shower heads or changing out the vanity are equally simple switches that can pay off. And surprisingly, looking at landscaping can yield significant results when it comes to profit at sale time. The curb appeal of property cannot be overstated, and few things can catch a buyer’s eye faster than a lovely yard with a clean look.

Best Home Improvement Projects for the Money In Order of ROI:

  • Minor Bath Remodel
  • Landscaping
  • Minor Kitchen Remodel
  • Attic Bedroom Conversion
  • Major Bath Remodel
  • Major Kitchen Remodel
  • Entry Door Replacement
  • Deck/Patio/Porch Addition
  • Basement Remodel
  • Replace Windows

Key Points:

  • 1Tackle a minor bathroom remodel and you should get more than your investment back. The ROI is around 102%.
  • 2Curb appeal sells homes. A modest $4900 investment in landscaping will give you a 100% return.
  • 3One of the easiest and less expensive updates to consider is replacing your front door. Average cost is $1410. Average return is $1280.


Quite honestly, one of the best things homeowners can do is remove an unnecessary wall that separates the kitchen from the rest of the house.