If you follow us on Instagram – which you obviously totally should, by the way – you’ll remember a recent post about house toys.
In it, we talked about how – of course – a basement waterfall and grotto may seem like practical and useful upgrades to any home.
They’re pretty much the only thing standing between you and the playboy lifestyle you’ve always dreamed about, right?
But this then begs the question: Who’s going to clean it?
Because it’s easy to fall in love with certain features of a home but often, homeowners quickly find out that those same features, in the long run, may end up being their least favorite.
Here are a few common ‘extras’ and a quick assessment of their relative values.
House Upgrades: Top-5 ‘Extras’ with Greatest ROI
Here, we found a comparison study on the average costs for 22 remodeling projects with the value those projects retain at resale in the South Atlantic Region of the United States.
These are the top-five ‘extras’ with the greatest return on investment at resale.
“Remove 300-square-foot continuous band of existing vinyl siding from bottom third of street-facing façade. Replace with adhered manufactured stone veneer, including 36 linear feet (LF) of sills, 40 LF of corners, and one address block. Installation includes two separate layers of water-resistive barrier laid over bare sheathing, corrosion-resistant lath and fasteners, and nominal ½-inch-thick mortar scratch coat and setting bed. Outline entry archway; use an 8×10-inch keystone and a soldier course of flats on either side.”
Job Cost: $8,524
Resale Value: $7,789
Cost Recouped: 91.4%
“Remove and dispose of existing 16×7-foot garage door and tracks. Install new four-section garage door on new heavy-duty galvanized steel tracks; reuse existing motorized opener. A new door has a lifetime warranty, and is made with high-tensile-strength steel with two coats of factory-applied paint, is foam insulated to minimum R-12, and includes thermal seals between pinch-resistant panels. Windows in the top panel are ½-inch insulated glass. Hardware includes galvanized steel hinges and ball-bearing urethane rollers.”
Job Cost: $3,541
Resale Value: $3,051
Cost Recouped: 86.1%
“In a functional but dated 200-square-foot kitchen with 30 linear feet of cabinetry and countertops, leave cabinet boxes in place but replace fronts with new shaker-style wood panels and drawer fronts, including new hardware. Replace cooktop/oven range and slide-in refrigerator with new energy-efficient models. Replace laminate countertops; install mid-priced sink and faucet. Add new resilient flooring. Finish with painted walls, trim, and ceiling.”
Job Cost: $21,440
Resale Value: $17,754
Cost Recouped: 82.8%
Steel Entry Door Replacement (Steel)
“Remove existing 3-0/6-8 entry door and jambs and replace with new 20-gauge steel unit, including a clear, dual-pane half-glass panel, jambs, and aluminum threshold with composite stop. The door is factory finished with same color both sides. Exterior brick-mold and 2.5-inch interior colonial or ranch casings in poplar or equal prefinished to match door color. Replace existing lockset.”
Job Cost: $1,758
Resale Value: $1,332
Cost Recouped: 75.8%
“Add 16×20-foot deck using pressure-treated joists supported by 4×4-inch posts anchored to concrete piers. Install pressure-treated deck boards in a simple linear pattern. Include a built-in bench and planter of the same decking material. Include stairs, assuming three steps to grade. Provide a complete railing system using pressure-treated wood posts, railings, and balusters.”
Job Cost: $12,047
Resale Value: $9,011
Cost Recouped: 74.8%
We know; we’re just as surprised as you that grottos and three-story waterslides aren’t included on there either.
We kid.
Because as nice as it would be to have those inarguably amazing house toys, they just don’t hold the same value as, say, something as practical as a garage door. Bummer, we know.
All that said, if you’re in your Forever Home and you have the means, feel free to MTV Cribs your house to your heart’s content. Just make sure we get an invite!
Because at DeLeon Sheffield Company, ‘We’re More Than Realty; We’re Family.’
