Which Home Improvement Projects Are Best?

The three best home improvements to get a return on your investment.

Which home improvement project is going to give you the most money back? There are a lot of variables that factor into this. What’s the neighborhood like, what’s the market doing, what's the value of your house, and how soon are you planning to sell? These are just a few of the variables to consider.

Keep in mind that there is a big difference between repairs and remodels or improvements. Repairs are things like fixing a leaky roof. Buyers have a hard time looking past these necessary repairs, so they’ll need to be addressed, or your home value will suffer.

So what improvements will give you the most return? Most of the studies that I’ve looked at ranked curb appeal improvements as the No. 1 return on investment. That means anything that makes your exterior look better: landscaping, new siding, roof, and windows. 

 If you’re thinking about improving your house, have a professional come take a look.

The second-best improvement is minor, and I stress minor, kitchen or bath remodels. We’re not talking about buying a new bathtub, ripping out the cabinets, or installing a granite countertop. Maybe we paint the cabinets, put new knobs on them, or get new appliances.