The 2017 Cost vs. Value report by Remodeling magazine documents the national and regional costs and ROI (return on investment) for 29 popular home improvement projects.

Overall, these 29 improvements paid back 64.3 cents on the dollar in resale value.

What that says to the homeowner is that spending money to sell a home requires research.

The goal of improvements from a seller’s standpoint is to attract buyers and achieve top dollar on a listing. But finding the balance between updates and return isn’t that simple.

In a seller’s market, spending (significant amounts of) money on improvements for resale may not translate to added value. As the tide turns to a buyer’s market in the next year or so, agents will need to carefully track ROI numbers to advise sellers.

Those surveyed about the return on remodeling projects were licensed agents, so Remodeling Editor-in-Chief Craig Webb says the report is a reflection of confidence in the industry:

“I think that this year’s Cost vs. Value report actually reflects the general optimism that both remodelers and Realtors have about the state of the housing economy. We are building more and more homes, slowly in this country, but that’s rising. Remodeling activity is as active as it’s ever been in history. And so, consequently, the prospects are good for everyone involved in the process: the consumer, the remodeler, the Realtor.”

Subtle changes pay off

The No. 1 trend in this year’s numbers is that the subtle changes make for the biggest return on investment.

Remodeling compared these minor improvements to painting with “greige” — the popular mix of gray and beige that’s a subtle but wildly popular color this year.

The two highest percentage returns nationally came from low-ticket improvements under $2,000: attic insulation came in no. 1 at 107.7 percent, followed by entry door replacement (steel) at 90.7 percent.

Look outside first

Projects that spoke to curb appeal had overall larger returns than improvements inside the home.

Garage doors garnered 76.9 percent ROI for mid-range and 85 percent for upscale replacements.

Entry door replacements in both mid-range and upscale (fiberglass) received greater than 77 percent ROI.

Windows at both levels gained at least 73 percent ROI. Siding was also a winner at 76.4 percent.

The bronze medalist in the top 10 is stone veneer — because it’s become so authentic-looking for a fraction of the cost of the real stuff.

Replacements win

Projects that involved a total replacement — such as windows and doors — scored high among the real estate professionals surveyed.

The takeaway for homeowners is that a broken or seriously outdated door should probably be replaced, even if the return is not 100 percent.

The same goes for old single-pane windows. This speaks to curb appeal as well as the first impression of a well-maintained home.

Biggest losers

Year over year, the trends show that mid-range and upscale additions (except decks) saw less than 62-percent returns overall.

This doesn’t make one of these projects a “loser,” per se, if it makes life in your home better. Just don’t expect to make big money here.

There are two reasons to add on regardless of return.

First, the homeowner simply needed more room well before they were prepared to sell.

Second, the home was disproportionate to those around it (for example, a one-bath in a neighborhood full of two- and three-bath homes).

The biggest low-return project was a $12,860 backup power generator at 54 percent ROI. (It seems there are few believers in the Zombie Apocalypse.)

The second-runner-up loser is a $51,935 backyard patio at 54.9 percent ROI; the project includes 20×20 flagstone patio, sliding door, stone-veneer-surround outdoor kitchen, a gas-powered firepit, pergola and lighting. (Perhaps the lack of hot tub for that spend was the deciding factor.)

Surprise! (Not surprised)

If you were to guess what buyers want, I’d put money down that most people would say updated kitchens and bathrooms.

What’s surprising here is that a minor kitchen remodel at $20,830 could make the Top 10, but a minor bathroom remodel, which cost $18,546, had a surprisingly low 64.8 percent return.

A closer look reveals that in the kitchen, the cabinets were simply refaced, but all the appliances were replaced with stainless, energy-efficient models.

In the bathrooms, the replacements were pretty standard fare.

Both the bathroom and kitchen remodels with spends over $50,000 returned less than 65 percent (not surprised). Because these rooms are highly personal, spending a lot on one specific style could actually turn off buyers.

New trend: Multi-generational living

One new project that didn’t make the Top 10 but may become a growing attraction is a “universal design bathroom.” This bathroom includes such features as a walk-in shower, support bars and a wheelchair-accessible sink.

“Baby boomers are getting older and they’ve decided, for the most part, that they don’t want to move,” said Webb. “That means that they’ve asked themselves ‘Well, what does it take to live here?’ and ‘What do we want to do to change?’ Sometimes it’s putting the bedroom on the first floor, or putting in a walk-in shower.”

A Pew Research census analysis showed that 60.6 million people are living with multiple generations under one roof, the highest percentage since 1960.

It’s not unreasonable to speculate that the rising cost of housing and care will see more boomers and Gen-Xers bringing aging parents into their homes; at the same time, millennial children loaded with student loan debt are moving back in to save for their own homes.

Getting what you paid for

Although all but one project on this Cost vs. Value report showed a profit-generating ROI, you could argue that not updating key rooms such as bathrooms, kitchens and front exteriors produces a greater negative result. How many buyers wants a “handyman special”?

As housing prices start to dip, this will come into play even more.

It’s a difficult lose-lose for some sellers who can’t afford significant updates but need to make money on their house. They’ll need some expert guidance to make strategic and cost-effective choices.

Best ROI by region

Regional patterns have remained the same year over year. The nation’s hottest market is the Pacific region, with overall returns at 78.2 percent and 10 projects with at least 90 percent ROI.

Conversely, slow markets in the Midwest brought in the lowest overall returns at 54.9 percent and no paybacks over 80 cents on the dollar.

“If you go to San Francisco, 21 of the 29 projects have a return over 100 percent,” Webb said.

“But if you go to Indianapolis, or the entire states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and Kansas, there’s not a single project over 100 percent. However, all 29 projects returned over 100 percent in at least one region of the country.”

Laura's Colorado Springs Real Estate Blog