How to Add Value to Your Home

Renovating your home is a numbers game. What are the home improvements that add value to your home? How much do you have to spend to fix up your home, and what will it get you in return? When is it worth it to spend more on high-end finishes to get a better return on investment (ROI)? Is it more cost effective to sell as-is? What are the best renovation projects and features that will appeal to the widest range of buyers when you decide to sell?

Home buying and design style are intensely personal choices, and not everyone will love the changes you make.

The research team at Zillow dug into 100 common terms found in home listings from 2017-2018 and unearthed the home improvement projects most likely to add value to your home today and put more money in your pocket when it’s time to sell.

Read on for some of the biggest bang-for-your-buck ways to improve the value of your home. (Here’s a hint: One of them is guaranteed to make you hungry.)

Steam shower

A glass-enclosed steam shower is a great stress reliever — and not just because of its spa-like ambiance. “Steam shower” is the listing keyword that topped the list in terms of sales price increase.

• Benefits of advertising: Homes touting steam showers earned their sellers a 29% higher sale price than listings that didn’t mention it.
• Cost estimate: The cost to install typically includes the steam generator system, hardware, plumbing, waterproofing, tiling, and a glass shower enclosure. Depending on if you’re adapting a current shower or starting from scratch, the cost can range from $2,500 to $10,000.
• Most common metro area: Unsurprisingly, steam showers were most commonly found in listings for chilly Chicago.

Professional appliances

The kitchen is often the heart of the home, so it’s no wonder that home buyers put a premium on upgraded, high-quality appliances.

• Benefits of advertising: Homes with professional appliances benefited from a 32% higher sale price over expected value than listings that didn’t mention them. And in high-end homes, the phrase “Sub-Zero fridge” earned sellers a whopping 38% premium.
• Cost estimate: Professional-grade appliances start at about $1,500 for workhorses like dishwashers and microwaves, and upwards of $5,000 for show-stopping gas ranges and high-tech refrigerators.  
• Most common metro area: The phrase “professional appliances” was most commonly found in Los Angeles.

Pizza ovens

There must be a lot of chefs in the market for a new home, because the phrase “pizza oven” was one of the most lucrative keywords in recent listings. Hungry yet?

• Benefits of advertising: Owners of homes boasting a pizza oven savored a 26% higher sale price over expected value than their less-delicious competition.
• Cost estimate: Depending on the size of the oven you’re building, a DIY project can set you back only $500-$1,000. Call in a professional and expect to spend between $1,500 and $4,000.   
• Most common metro area: Foodie-friendly Los Angeles is the city where you’ll most commonly find pizza ovens listed.

Heated floors or radiant heating

Another upgrade cold-climate buyers love is radiant heating, most commonly in the form of heated floors. What better way to get through the winter than with warm feet?

• Benefits of advertising: Homes that offered heated floors or radiant heating enjoyed a 24% premium over expected value.  
• Cost estimate: Expect to pay between $5 and $10 per square foot (not including flooring costs), depending on the size of the space you’re heating and whether you choose electric or hydronic heating.
• Most common metro area: No L.A. on this one — heated floors are most commonly found in New York.

Wine fridges

Cheers to this upgrade! Sellers offloading homes with “wine fridge” in their description have reason to celebrate.

• Benefits of advertising: These sellers enjoyed a 22% edge over other similar listings.
• Cost estimate: Depending on the size and number of temperature zones you want, a wine fridge can cost as little as $200, up to $2,000 for high-end models. Most are built to easily slide in under standard cabinets, so it might be as easy as replacing an unused kitchen cabinet (perhaps with an hour of an electrician’s time). Compared to many other big-ticket upgrades, this is one that can often be a great DIY home improvement.
• Most common metro area: Los Angeles again! This big city is big on wine, and it shows in their listings.

Solar panels

One of the top-ranking eco-friendly features on the list, solar panels were a popular upgrade, especially among value-priced or entry-level homes (those in the bottom third by price).

• Benefits of advertising: Overall, home listings offering “solar panels” in the description pocketed 21% above expected value. Among homes priced in the bottom third of the market, sellers netted an incredible 40% more.
• Cost estimate: Solar panels are priced per watt of energy they generate. The average U.S. home with solar power has a 6 kW system, paying between $2.71 and $3.57 per watt, for a total end price of between $11,000 and $15,000, after federal tax credits. The good news? The cost of solar panels is dropping every year.
• Most common metro area: Sunny Southern California leads the pack in solar panel listings, specifically in Los Angeles.

Home improvements buyers love