Upgrading or improving your home can be one of the most rewarding activities you could undertake — and that includes monetarily, because depending on the improvement, you can boost your home’s value and recoup some of your investment when the time comes to sell. However, it’s important to remember that upgrading your house isn’t exactly a dollar-for-dollar investment; you probably aren’t going to make all of your money back that you sunk into the improvement, so pumping $5,000 into your kitchen and then expecting to just tack on an additional $5,000 to your listing price when you sell it is very likely unrealistic.
Which home improvements result in the highest return when it comes time to sell? There are several that are likely to generate at least a small increase in your home’s value — but before you decide what to do, think about how long you’re likely to stay in the house and which upgrades you’ll get the most enjoyment from before you start renovating. That way you won’t be expecting a 1:1 (or higher) return, and if you’re focused on improving your own lifestyle and maybe making some memories with your household, you’ll be picking the wisest upgrades and increasing your home’s future listing price at the same time.