The Best Home Renovations for the Biggest ROI

Painting

Painting is the most under-appreciated home improvement. Nothing provides a higher ROI than quality, professionally done painting. When putting your home on the market, consider a professional painter who can help select the right palette, skim the walls, seal trim and repair minor damage before applying top quality paint that’s appropriate for each surface (matte for living areas, egg shell or semi-gloss for trims and doors and proper ceiling paint.)

It doesn’t seem like the most glamorous of renovations, or promise the most dramatic before-and-after, but it instills freshness and can flatter your home in ways you’ve never imagined. A colour expert can help select the perfect shades to work with the lighting in your home and ensure it puts its best face forward!

ROI:

A fresh coat of paint typically garners a 60% return on your investment.

By the Numbers:

Budget for a 2,000-sq.-ft. home: approximately $10,000-$15,000

Doors & Hardware

Investing in new interior doors and hardware; replacing the front door and adding a quality lock-set; and adding baseboard, door trim, crown mouldings and wainscoting are all examples of relatively inexpensive and non-invasive improvements that can immediately punch up the appeal of a home.

It really comes down to the quality of the finish though. This is not a time to skimp on materials or workmanship. Hire someone you know and trust, or ask for referrals from friends who you know share similar standards.

ROI:

Smaller projects that have less of a “wow” factor, and may even go unnoticed in an open house, draw a smaller return, around 50 per cent of your initial investment.

By the Numbers:



Solid wood front door with quality lock-set: $2,500

Solid core interior doors with hardware: $250/per door