Spend those home-improvement dollars wisely
Homeowners looking to spend their dollars as wisely as possible would do best to improve the exteriors of their homes.
That is the advice gleaned from the National Association of Realtors’ 2007 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report. The report, released each year, lists the most cost-effective home-improvement projects.
According to the survey, the most cost-effective home-improvement project is the addition of upscale outdoor siding. When selling their homes, owners get back a survey-topping 88 percent of the cost of this project.
Two other outdoor projects accounted for three of the top four cost-effective improvement jobs. Wood deck additions and wood window replacements returned 85 percent and 81 percent of their costs upon the sale of a home.
The only interior project, though, that returned more than 80 percent of its cost was a minor kitchen remodel. That brought back 83 percent of its costs during a home’s resale.
The least profitable home-improvement projects include sunroom additions and home-office remodels, according to the report
The lesson here? If you’re spending big dollars on your house, focus on its outside curb appeal. It’s what buyers pay most attention to, and it’s the most cost-effective way to spend your remodeling dollars.
Tags: Cost-vs.-Value-Report, home-improvement, National-Association-of-RealtorsRelated Stories
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2 opinions for Spend those home-improvement dollars wisely
Joseph
Dec 6, 2007 at 12:55 pm
I absolutely agree. I am actually a buyer in this market and I have seen house after house with little to no curb appeal. I also constantly see listings with improvements on the interior while the exterior looks like a train wreck. If I were selling my house, I would focus on the outside since most buyers plan on rearranging the inside of the home anyways.
Dan
Dec 7, 2007 at 5:02 am
Hi, Joseph:
Thanks for your comment. I, too, remember looking at some of the houses that were on the market about two years ago and wondering how their owners expected to entice anyone to look inside.
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