Maximize your Seattle home value with ROI-driven remodeling choices
Unless you’re about to sell your home, it generally isn’t a good idea to solely plan your remodel on resale value. Trends and needs come and go and Seattle-area buyers may suddenly be looking for things that weren’t top priorities in the past, like office space, central air or smart home features. That being said, here are some of the biggest return-on-investment (ROI) projects in home remodeling these days.
Consider curb appeal and exterior living spaces
In terms of dollars spent vs. return, exteriors are a great place to start. Upgrades like garage and front door replacements; fresh exterior paint, new durable siding or stone veneer; new energy-efficient windows; and low-maintenance, eco-friendly landscaping are big draws to homebuyers right now.
Whether in the front or the back of the house, outdoor living spaces are also increasingly popular and important to buyers for those precious Seattle summers. Decks can return as much as 80% of your investment, but patios, outdoor kitchens and fire pits also provide great ROI.
Mid-range home upgrades are key to ROI
There are kitchen remodels and then there are major kitchen remodels. The latter is absolutely worth it if you’ll be in your home for awhile and have home chef aspirations. But in terms of ROI, less extensive kitchen remodels will mostly pay for themselves. Updating cabinets, appliances, lighting, paint and countertops can make your kitchen feel brand new, without the additional expense of going down to the studs and reconfiguring the layout, plumbing and electricity.
Like kitchens, bathroom updates vs. full bathroom remodels deliver the best ROI. Fresh paint, new fixtures, updated cabinets and new tiling look great and typically won’t break the bank.
Get more room for less money
Sometimes it’s worth it to add a floor or bump out your existing floorplan, but if you’re looking for more space for less money, a garage or basement remodel is the way to go—just make sure there’s adequate ceiling height or your project can be a turn-off rather than a feature. If you have the right size lot and a bigger budget, a detached accessory dwelling unit, or DADU can also provide a good ROI, both to Seattle homebuyers down the road and as potential rental space right now.
Be realistic, but put your needs first
Before embarking on any remodeling project, try to see your home through a buyer’s eyes. A small house will still be a small house, no matter how beautiful you make it. Replacing both bathtubs with walk-in showers will make your place more appealing to some buyers and less appealing to others. And location will almost always play a huge factor in resale value.
It’s important to keep these resale limitations in mind and not remodel far beyond the value of comparable properties in your neighborhood. But at the end of the day, if your dream project or higher-end materials will improve your life now and you’re not looking to sell anytime soon, it’s probably worth it.
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