When homeowners start thinking about selling, one of the first questions we often hear is:
“Should we make improvements before putting the house on the market?”
It’s an important question — and the answer isn’t always as straightforward as homeowners expect.
As real estate professionals, Rob and Yamel Maynard regularly help sellers evaluate their homes through the eyes of today’s buyers. One of the biggest misconceptions we encounter is that the amount spent improving a property will automatically translate into the same increase in market value.
Unfortunately, real estate doesn’t always work that way.
A renovation may have been expensive. It may have dramatically improved how the current owner enjoys the home. But when it comes time to sell, buyers ultimately determine how much additional value they place on that improvement.
Renovation ROI
Which Home Improvements Offer the Best Return?
One of the most important things we explain to sellers is that renovation cost and resale value are two very different numbers. According to Cost vs. Value figures from Remodeling Magazine, some relatively straightforward projects can deliver surprisingly strong returns, while larger additions and extensive remodels may recover a much smaller percentage of their original cost.
Garage Door Replacement
It may not be the first renovation homeowners dream about, but from a resale perspective, this one makes sense. Rob and Yamel often remind sellers that buyers begin evaluating a property before they ever step inside. A dated or damaged garage door can immediately affect that first impression, while a clean, updated exterior can make the entire property feel better maintained.
Steel Entry Door Replacement
Your front entrance sets the tone for the home. A new entry door can refresh the exterior without requiring a major renovation and helps create the polished first impression that matters when buyers arrive for a showing. It’s a good example of how targeted improvements can sometimes create more value than large-scale projects.
Vinyl Siding Replacement
Exterior condition plays an important role in buyer perception. Fresh siding can make a home appear newer and better maintained, influencing a buyer’s impression before they begin evaluating individual rooms or finishes.
Minor Kitchen Remodel
The kitchen matters — but that doesn’t necessarily mean sellers need to completely rebuild it.
A thoughtful refresh — cabinetry, countertops, hardware, lighting, appliances or finishes — may be enough to make the space feel updated without taking on the expense of a full renovation. Before recommending a major kitchen project, Rob and Yamel consider the home itself, the neighborhood, competing properties and what buyers at that price point are likely to expect.
Vinyl Window Replacement
Replacing older windows can improve both the appearance and functionality of a home. While buyers may appreciate the potential benefits of newer windows, the value of the project should still be considered alongside the property’s overall condition and the expectations of buyers in that particular market.
Wooden Window Replacement
Wood windows can be especially appealing in properties where architectural character matters. But this is also an example of why renovation decisions shouldn’t be made from percentages alone. For certain homes, preserving architectural style may be far more important than choosing the option with the highest theoretical return.
Wood Deck Addition
In Southern California, outdoor living can be an important extension of the home. A thoughtful outdoor space can help buyers envision entertaining, relaxing and enjoying the property beyond its interior square footage. But as with any improvement, design and context matter.
Bathroom Remodel
Bathrooms absolutely influence how buyers perceive a home, but expensive materials don’t automatically produce an equivalent increase in value. When helping homeowners prepare for market, Rob and Yamel look first at whether the bathroom feels clean, current and well maintained. Sometimes updating lighting, hardware, paint, fixtures or finishes can accomplish much of what a seller needs without undertaking a complete remodel.
Major Kitchen Remodel
There’s no question that a beautiful kitchen can help a property stand out. But full-scale renovations can become expensive quickly, and highly personalized choices may not appeal equally to the next owner.
This is one of the reasons Rob and Yamel encourage sellers to talk with a real estate professional before beginning a major renovation intended primarily to increase resale value.
Primary Suite Addition
Adding a primary suite can fundamentally change how a home lives, but it can also be a major investment. Whether an addition makes financial sense depends heavily on the existing property, square footage, floor plan, lot, neighborhood and comparable homes nearby.
“The amount you spend is not what determines how much value you create.”
The Biggest Renovation Isn’t Always the Smartest Renovation
Some of the strongest returns on this list come from projects that improve curb appeal, condition and first impressions rather than dramatically changing the home.
That aligns with what Rob and Yamel see when working with sellers and buyers. Buyers don’t walk through a property with a calculator adding up what every renovation must have cost. They’re evaluating the entire experience.
Does the home feel cared for?
Does it feel current?
Does the layout work?
Are there obvious projects waiting for them?
Does the property feel worth the asking price?
Seller Strategy
Before Renovating to Sell, Start With the Market
If you’re renovating because you plan to enjoy the improvements for years, your priorities can understandably be personal.
But if you’re making improvements because you expect to sell, the market should become part of the decision.
Before clients invest heavily in a property ahead of a sale, Rob and Yamel look at factors including:
- The home’s current condition
- Recent comparable sales
- Competing inventory
- What buyers expect at the property’s price point
- Which improvements are likely to affect first impressions
- Whether the home already meets neighborhood expectations
- Whether a smaller update could accomplish the same goal
- How soon the homeowner expects to sell
Sometimes the best recommendation is a renovation.
Sometimes it’s a handful of smaller improvements.
And sometimes the smartest recommendation is not to renovate at all.
That judgment is where local real estate expertise becomes particularly valuable.
Considering a Move?
Talk to Rob & Yamel Before You Renovate
If you’re considering making improvements because you may sell your home in the next year or two, Rob and Yamel Maynard can help you evaluate where an investment may make a meaningful difference — and where your money may be better left in your pocket.
The project values referenced above are based on national averages. Actual returns can vary by property and market.
Explore additional renovation and regional data through Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value resources .
