The Value of Home Improvements

This is just a small sampling of the data from Remodeling Magazine's Cost vs. Value Report to show resale values for home improvements. Resale values vary by geography, and Zillow's My Estimator uses the cost recouped from remodels for specific areas rather than the national numbers. For example, the cost recouped for a major kitchen remodel is 62.1% in Philadelphia, and 105.1% in Los Angeles. For sample purposes, below are the 2005 national averages for types of home improvements, ranked according to the highest return value.

Improvement Type	Detailed Description	Job Cost	Resale Value	Cost Recouped
Siding Replacement (Upscale)	Replace 1,250 square feet of existing siding with new fiber-cement siding, factory pre-primed and pre-painted including all 4/4 and 5/4 trim using either fiber-cement boards or cellular PVC.	$10,393	$10,771	103.6%
Bathroom Remodel (Mid-range)	Update existing bathroom that is at least 25 years old. Replace all fixtures New, 30-by-60-inch porcelain-on-steel bathtub with 4-by-4 ceramic tile surround New single-lever temperature and pressure-balanced shower control New standard white toilet Solid-surface vanity with integral double sink Recessed medicine cabinet with light Ceramic tile floor Vinyl wallpaper	$10,499	$10,727	102.2%
Minor Kitchen Remodel	Update a functional, but dated 200-square-foot kitchen with 30 linear feet of cabinetry and countertops Refinish existing cabinets, adding raised-panel wood doors and drawers Energy-efficient wall oven and cooktop Laminate countertops New mid-priced sink and faucet Wall covering or new paint Resilient flooring	$14,913	$14,691	98.5%
Siding Replacement (Mid-range)	Replace 1,250 square feet of existing siding with new vinyl siding and add all new trim	$7,239	$6,914	95.5%
Two Story Addition	Add a first-floor family room and a second-floor bedroom with full bath in a 24-by-16-foot two-story wing over a crawl space. Add new heating and cooling system to handle addition In family room, include a prefabricated gas fireplace; 11 3-by-5-foot double-hung insulated clad-wood windows; an atrium-style exterior door; carpeted floors; painted drywall on walls and ceiling; and painted trim. In 5-by-8 feet bathroom, include a one-piece fiberglass tub/shower unit; standard white toilet; wood vanity with solid-surface countertop; resilient vinyl flooring; and mirrored medicine cabinet with built-in light strip; papered walls; and painted trim; exhaust fan. In bedroom, include walk-in closet/dressing area; carpet; painted walls, ceiling, and trim; general and spot lighting.	$80,133	$75,831	94.6%
Attic Bedroom Conversion	In a house with two or three bedrooms, convert unfinished space in attic to a 15-by-15-foot bedroom and a 5-by-7-foot shower bath Add a 15-foot shed dormer and four new windows and closet space Insulate and finish ceiling and walls Carpet floor Extend existing heating and central air conditioning to new space Retain existing stairs, but add rail and baluster around stairwell	$39,188	$36,649	93.5%
Bathroom Remodel (Upscale)	Expand an existing 5-by-7-foot bathroom to 9-by-9-foot within existing house footprint. Add another window, bringing total glazing area to 30 square feet Relocate and replace tub with custom dual 4-by-6-foot shower with top-of-line fittings and full-body wash shower wall, tile and glass block surround and glass door Relocate the toilet into a partitioned area and replace it with one-piece color unit and add bidet Stone tops in custom vanity cabinet with twin designer undermount sinks; polished nickel faucets Linen/towel storage closet Ceramic tile floor, papered walls, hardwood trim General and spot lighting Humidistat-controlled exhaust fan	$26,052	$24,286	93.2%
Major Kitchen Remodel (Mid-range)	Update an outmoded 200-square-foot kitchen with design and installation of a functional layout of new cabinets, laminate countertops, standard double-tub stainless-steel sink with standard single-lever faucet Energy efficient wall oven, cooktop, ventilation system Built-in microwave, dishwasher, garbage disposal, and custom lighting Add new resilient floor Finish with painted walls, trim, and ceiling Include 30 linear feet of semi-custom grade wood cabinets Include a 3-by-5-foot island	$43,862	$39,920	91.0%
Deck Addition	Add a 16-by-20-foot deck using pressure-treated SYP joists supported by 4-by-4 posts set into concrete footings Install composite deck material in a simple linear pattern Built-in planter and bench of the same decking material. Stairs, assuming three steps to grade Complete railing system using either a matching system made of the same composite as the decking material or a compatible vinyl system	$11,294	$10,196	90.3%
Basement Remodel	Finish the lower level of a house to create a 20-by-30-foot entertaining area with wet bar, a 5-by-8-foot full bath, and a 12-by-12-foot auxiliary room Walls and ceilings are painted drywall throughout Exterior walls are insulated with painted trim throughout Five six-panel primed hardboard doors Main room shall include 15 recessed ceiling light fixtures and three surface-mounted light fixtures and snap-together laminate flooring system Bathroom includes standard white toilet, vanity with cultured marble top, resilient vinyl flooring, two-piece fiberglass shower unit, a light/fan combination, vanity light fixture, and recessed medicine cabinet Bar area includes 10 linear feet of raised panel oak cabinets with laminate countertops, stainless steel bar sink, single-lever bar faucet, under-counter refrigerator, and vinyl floor tile	$51,051	$46,010	90.1%
Window Replacement (Mid-range)	Replace 10 existing 3-by-5-foot double-hung windows with vinyl- or aluminum-clad, double-glazed, wood replacement windows Wrap existing exterior trim as required to match Do not disturb existing interior trim	$9,684	$8,681	89.6%
Window Replacement (Upscale)	Replace 10 existing 3-by-5-foot double-hung windows with double-glazed simulated-divided-light windows Interior finish of stained hardwood Exterior finish of custom-color aluminum cladding Trim exterior to match existing Do not disturb existing interior trim	$16,096	$14,259	88.6%
Roofing Replacement (Upscale)	Remove existing roofing to bare wood Install 30 squares of standing seam metal, formed on site into 16-inch panels using factory-enameled roll steel; double-lock all seams Use custom brake-bent flashing from same material for drip edge and all flashing at roof/wall intersections Assume a 5-square hip roof; custom flashing at two average-sized skylights; and custom cap treatment at vented ridge Apply over new felt underlayment; use rubberized asphalt membrane at eaves, valleys, and all penetrations	$16,453	$14,141	85.9%
Major Kitchen Remodel (Upscale)	Update an outmoded 200-square-foot kitchen with 30 linear feet of top-of-the-line custom cherry cabinets with built-in sliding shelves Granite countertops, and imported ceramic tile back-splash Built-in refrigerator, cooktop, and 36-inch commercial grade range and vent hood; Built-in warming drawer, trash compactor Built-in combination microwave and convection oven; and dishwasher Install high-end undermount sink with designer faucets, garbage disposer, and built-in water filtration system Add new general and task lighting including low-voltage under-cabinet lights Install cork flooring, cherry trim. Include a 3-by-5-foot island	$81,552	$69,194	84.8%
Roofing Replacement (Mid-range)	Remove existing roofing to bare wood Install 30 squares of 235-pound fiberglass asphalt shingles (minimum 25-year warranty) with new felt underlayment, galvanized drip edge, and mill-finish aluminum flashing Assume a 5-square hip roof; custom flashing at two average-sized skylights; and custom cap treatment at vented ridge	$11,164	$9,456	84.7%
Family Room Addition	In a style and location appropriate to the existing house, add a 16-by-25-foot room on a crawl space foundation with vinyl siding and fiberglass shingle roof Drywall interior with batt insulation Prefinished hardwood floor 180 square feet of glazing including windows, atrium-style exterior doors, and two operable skylights Tie into existing heating and cooling Add electrical system to code Add 12 recessed ceiling lights	$54,773	$45,458	83.0%
Sunroom Addition	Add a 200-square-foot sunroom, including footings and slab-on-grade foundation Post-and-beam framing exposed on interior side Extruded aluminum window frame-and-flashing system with insulated, low-E, laminated, or tempered glazing Provide for natural ventilation using screens; provide ceiling fan Insulate all non-glass areas; provide movable shades for glass area Quarry tile or equal substance on floor	$31,736	$23,643	74.5%
Home Office Remodel	Convert an existing 12-by-12-foot room to a home office Install custom cabinets to include 20 feet of laminate desk-top, computer workstation, and wall cabinet storage Rewire room for computer, fax machine, and other electronic equipment, as well as cable and telephone lines Include drywall interior, painted trim, and commercial-grade carpeting	$13,143	$9,569	72.8%

Excerpted with permission from the November 2005 issue of REMODELING Magazine. Remodeling's 2005 Cost vs. Value Report is available at www.remodelingmagazine.com.