{"id":6109,"date":"2026-01-08T03:00:31","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T11:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=6109"},"modified":"2026-01-08T19:39:38","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T03:39:38","slug":"what-upgrades-increase-home-value","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/what-upgrades-increase-home-value\/","title":{"rendered":"What Upgrades Increase Home Value? 25 High-ROI Improvements Buyers Love"},"content":{"rendered":"

As you plan your next renovation project, it\u2019s more critical than ever to know what upgrades increase home value<\/a>. The world looks much different in 2026 than it did a couple of years ago, and our homes have been at the center of massive change and re-evaluation.<\/p>\n

Flex rooms<\/a> and outdoor spaces<\/a>, for example, are now extremely coveted features. Our newest list of home improvements that add value takes these recent trends into account and incorporates specific product suggestions, updated for 2026.<\/p>\n

Using extensive surveys of HomeLight agents, expert data from the National Association of Home Builders<\/a> (NAHB), and out-in-the-field expertise from top agents such as Gina Baum<\/a> of northern Maryland, we\u2019ve put together this list of 25 home upgrade recommendations so you can make better decisions about where to invest your money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Upgrading Your Home? First, See How Much It's Worth<\/h3>\n

HomeLight can provide a preliminary estimate of home value in as little as two minutes.<\/p>\n \n

\n Request Home Value<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Home renovation trend overview<\/h2>\n

Annual inflation of 2.7%<\/a> as of November 2025, along with concerns over labor shortage and economic uncertainties, is making everything more expensive, including the cost to put in new floors or refresh your dated bathroom.<\/p>\n

Real estate values have also faced challenges in recent years. Cotality found an overall decrease in homeowner equity<\/a> of 2.1% year-over-year in Q3 2025.<\/p>\n

But that doesn\u2019t mean you should stop investing in your home. According to a survey of real estate professionals by the Journal of Light Construction, the average cost recouped<\/a> on popular remodeling projects in 2025 shows an increase compared to the previous year.<\/p>\n

Harvard researchers estimate Americans\u2019 total spending on home remodeling projects could reach a record high of $524 billion in early 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Upgrades that add physical square footage or make the house feel like home<\/h2>\n
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1. Convert or build a home office<\/h3>\n

A study projects that the remote workplace services market will grow into a $58.5 billion industry by 2027<\/a>. Statistics show that 23% of the U.S. workforce<\/a> worked from home in late 2025.<\/p>\n

Creating new space or dedicating existing space to a home office is likely going to be a good investment if you\u2019re in a market with a decent amount of people who telecommute<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Creative options could be converting a walk-in closet into a functioning office or, on the more expensive end, building a backyard ADU<\/a> (accessory dwelling unit) or extension to make room for one.<\/p>\n

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2. Finish your basement<\/h3>\n

If you have an unfinished basement, you might have room for storage, but you\u2019re missing out on livable space for future buyers to enjoy \u2014 whether as a home office or space for entertaining.<\/p>\n

Finishing a basement has a potential ROI of 70%<\/a>, according to data from Angi.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re adding more heated square footage,\u201d explains top Atlanta real estate agent Leighann Russell, bumping your house into another price bracket.<\/p>\n

Even among homes ranging from $250,000 to $400,000 in Georgia, Russell says an unfinished basement can add about $15,000 to $20,000. If finished, a basement can add even more \u2014 up to $40,000 or $50,000 to the asking price.<\/p>\n

Finishing a basement will run you $32,000 on average<\/a> but can cost up to $100,000, depending on your square footage. This project involves installing flooring, drywall, and paint<\/a>, but it creates a \u201cvaluable blank canvas\u201d for potential buyers.<\/p>\n

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3. Open up the floor plan to show design possibilities<\/h3>\n

Homebuyers want to feel like their home has been customized for them. While they are going for smaller homes<\/a>, according to NAHB, they still want each square foot to reflect their personality<\/a> and make it appear different from their neighbor\u2019s house.<\/p>\n

While an open layout allows the new homeowner to customize to their heart\u2019s content, our experts recommend consulting with a contractor or interior designer before swinging a sledgehammer. The NAHB points out that a home still needs structural support and definition between spaces. (Plus, some architectural styles, such as a two-story or Colonial house, aren\u2019t agreeable to this change.)<\/p>\n

Upgrades that enhance your home\u2019s curb appeal<\/h2>\n

Curb appeal<\/a> entices buyers before they even enter your home. For starters, attractive landscaping<\/a> implies that you maintain your home. You don\u2019t have to invest a lot, either.<\/p>\n

Here are a few other ways to make the outside of your home stand out.<\/p>\n

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4. Add stone veneer to the front of your house<\/h3>\n

Replacing 1,250 square feet of existing siding with new vinyl siding costs an average of $17,950 but recovers about 97% of that at resale<\/a>, according to the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report.<\/p>\n

Try the rounded texture of River Rock irregular stones<\/a> by Coronado Stone Products, or consider the slim lines and dynamic colors of Chisel Gray Stackstone<\/a> by Glen-Gery.<\/p>\n

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5. Get a door of steel<\/h3>\n

Statistics show that replacing an existing entry door with a steel one costs $2,435 and can recover 216% at resale<\/a>. Buyers appreciate metal\u2019s energy efficiency, low maintenance, and cold-blocking powers.<\/p>\n

Try the highly rated JELD-WEN Lite Craftsman Primed Steel Front Door<\/a> with high-definition panels and a polystyrene core for insulation ($636) or the more elegant Chatam by Stanley Doors<\/a> with contemporary decorative glass ($898).<\/p>\n

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6. Replace your garage door<\/h3>\n

Is the garage door looking a little dingy outside or making strange noises? Or perhaps the style is now dated compared to what your neighbors have? A new garage door is also likely to be worth the investment. Installing a new garage door costs an average of $4,672 but can recoup 268% in resale value<\/a>. You can\u2019t go wrong with a simple upgrade from the best-selling Clopay Classic Collection<\/a> ($666).<\/p>\n

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7. Update your mailbox and house numbers<\/h3>\n

Believe it or not, small touches like this grab buyers\u2019 attention, says Baum. \u201cThe mailbox kills me. You have a beautiful home, and they have a dented-up old mailbox, so when you pull up, you think, OK, what\u2019s the inside look like if they can\u2019t even replace a mailbox?\u201d<\/p>\n

A standard-size steel mailbox in a durable finish ready to install on an existing post costs about $35<\/a>. If you need a post, a craftsman mailbox and a post kit from Postal PRO cost about $69.<\/p>\n

As for house numbers, black 4-inch nail-on numbers in aluminum start at about $3 per digit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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8. Touch up or re-do your exterior paint<\/h3>\n

You don\u2019t have to repaint your whole house<\/a> to make it look new again, especially if you\u2019re on a budget. Touch up any flaking or chipped paint, or paint the front door and trim with colors that will not make them look outdated. In 2026, jewel and earth tones<\/a> are in.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019d like to redo the whole exterior, the designers at Brick&Batten<\/a>, a virtual design firm in Atlanta, Georgia, recommend Sherwin-Williams\u2019 Peppercorn<\/a>, a dark gray neutral hue, for the siding. Choose complementary colors<\/a> to bring everything together.<\/p>\n

Painting the whole exterior of a home costs an average of $3,177<\/a> depending on where you live and the home\u2019s existing condition, Angi says.<\/p>\n

Our agents also recommend pressure washing the exterior to remove dirt and mold. Pressure or power wash the sidewalk, driveway, patio, or deck for a complete refresh. This runs about $241 to $418<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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9. Add a parking spot<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re in a city or more crowded area where street parking is at a premium, look into adding a concrete parking pad for $1,200<\/a>. In Baum\u2019s area, \u201cThat\u2019s a huge upgrade,\u201d she says. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t cost that much, but it does bring value.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As the cost to improve your home rises and buyer preferences change, it\u2019s critical to know what upgrades increase home value in 2025.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":76,"featured_media":38928,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[320,333,330],"tags":[757,780,735],"class_list":["post-6109","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-add-value","category-increase-value","category-house-value","tag-how-to-get-your-house-ready-to-sell","tag-how-to-increase-home-value","tag-what-makes-property-value-increase"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat Upgrades Increase Home Value? 25 High-ROI Improvements<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"As the cost to improve your home rises and buyer preferences change, it\u2019s critical to know what upgrades increase home value in 2026.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/what-upgrades-increase-home-value\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Upgrades Increase Home Value? 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