Should I Remodel My Home Before I Sell?

CHICAGO — Real estate professionals say they often recommend potential sellers prioritize two house projects before they sell: Painting, whether it’s the entire home or at least one interior room, and making sure the roof is up to par.

Such projects can make a difference in marketing a home to potential buyers, according to the 2025 Remodeling Impact Report, conducted by the National Association of Realtors® and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. About one-third of real estate pros also believe kitchen upgrades can make a big difference in upping a property’s appeal.

Home remodeling continues to be a booming business, as homeowners flex the rapid increase they’ve seen in home equity and use it to spruce up their homes. Real estate pros are finding themselves an important ally in helping to guide remodeling decisions.

So, which house projects today offer the biggest bang for your buck? The Remodeling Impact Report compared the estimated cost of various home remodeling projects to real estate professionals’ estimates of the likely dollar value each project could add to the home at resale. 

The household item topping the list, recovering every bit of its upfront expense at resale, is a new steel front door. Near the top of the list, a new fiberglass front door was found to return nearly 80% of the cost. Front doors are important for curb appeal, helping to set a home’s first impression.

Also, real estate professionals say owners are likely to see decent returns, though not full cost recovery, on storage solutions, window replacements, and improvements that add space without expanding the footprint of the house.

In the 2025 Remodeling Impact Report, here how the top 12 home remodeling projects ranked based on their estimated cost recovery at resale: 

1. New steel front door: 100%
2. Closet renovation: 83%
3. New fiberglass front door: 80%
4. New vinyl windows: 74%
5. New wood windows: 71%
6. Basement conversion to living area: 71%
7. Attic conversion to living area: 67%
8. Complete kitchen renovation: 60%
9. Minor kitchen upgrade: 60%
10. Bathroom addition: 56%
11. New primary suite: 54%
12. Bathroom renovation: 50%

© 2025 National Association of Realtors® (NAR)