Home improvements top the list of ways to increase the selling price of your home. Whether you’re handy with a hammer or a checkbook, the top home improvements are those with the biggest return on investment. Learning to spot the top home improvements will help your remodeling dollar go farther.

Top Home Improvements: A Return On Investment

Keeping up with the Joneses (sort of). The key to maximizing your home improvement investment is to keep the amenities in your home at the same level as those of your neighbors and in similar homes close by. Check out local open houses and tour model homes in new developments to get a good idea of what the competition has to offer. Your goal is to meet, but not exceed, the level of features available in homes of your size and price range.

From the outside in. If you live in a house, you’ll get a better than 80% return on investment for upgrading the exterior of your home. The top home improvement to the exterior of your home is replacing older siding with energy efficient, low maintenance materials. Save money on your roof—upgraded roofing will only improve your selling price if the roof needed repairs in the first place. (more…)

The worst home improvements are those that are expensive, but return very little on your investment. As a homeowner, you may be considering home improvements for a number of reasons including a need for more space, an updated look or an increase in your homes value. The right home improvements can address all these needs, while the worst home improvements will simply consume time and money.

The Worst Home Improvements For Your Dollar

Check with the home office. Although more and more people are working from home, most homebuyers are looking for the most versatile space they can find. Special purpose rooms like a home office make the worst home improvements because you may realize very little return on your investment if your buyer isn’t interested in this type of feature. Exception: turning an area of wasted space into a home office (like a closet or nook) can have the impact of adding a room, and be a smart investment.

A sunny spot. While a sunroom may take advantage of a bright spot on your property, many perspective buyers see it as a place they’ll seldom use that may require extra cleaning and heating costs. On average, a sunroom addition returns roughly half of its cost when it comes time to sell your home. (more…)

From concrete to stainless steel to quartz and laminate in every color under the sun, there are so many choices for kitchen countertops that making a selection can be overwhelming. There are a multitude of factors that play into this choice, including aesthetics, durability, price and ultimately, which kitchen countertops are the best option for resale value. If you’re considering replacing kitchen countertops, read on. We’ve outlined the various materials on the market along with their prices, characteristics and our top picks for resale.

Material: Granite

Cost: $80+ per s.f.

Pros: Heat resistant, durable, wide variety of colors and finishes, the top choice for buyers.

Cons: Price, can stain, chip or crack.

Material: Soapstone

Cost: $60+ per s.f. (more…)

Quick question: how many fingers do you have?

Go ahead. Take a look. We’ll wait.

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Okay, so if you answered any number less than ten, AND if the reason for that number is directly related to an incident involving power tools, YOU should always hire a contractor. Knocking down a wall? Hire a contractor. Laying tile? Hire a contractor. Changing a roll of toilet paper? HIRE A CONTRACTOR! (more…)