Curb appeal really does have a major impact on the return you’ll see at resale. Among the top 10 home improvement projects with the highest return on investment (ROI) in Remodeling magazine’s newly-released Cost vs. Value Report, nine are outdoor projects.   Related: 4 Resolutions for Home Improvements to Make in 2021   Topping this year’s list is Manufactured Stone Veneer, a project that has consistently ranked toward the top of the list since the project was added to the report in 2015.  Unsurprisingly, the report shows an increase in cost for all 22 projects listed; however, there is also a consistent dip across the board in terms of what the perceived value of each of these projects is. This is likely due to a market that was anything but smooth in 2019. “Why the difference? The most likely answer is consumer jitters,” says Clay DeKorne, chief editor of the JLC Group, which includes Remodeling magazine. “While remodeling professionals need to stay on point, they can breathe easy. Remodeling activity is growing at a slower rate than in years past, but it continues to grow.”  

Nationally, here are the 10 projects with the greatest ROI, according to the 2020 Cost vs. Value Report:

  Manufactured Stone Veneer (95.6% ROI)

• Average Cost: $9,357
• Average Resale Value: $8,943

Garage Door Replacement (94.5% ROI)

• Average Cost: $3,695
• Average Resale Value: $3,491

Minor Kitchen Remodel (Midrange) (77.6% ROI)

• Average Cost: $23,452
• Average Resale Value: $18,206

Siding Replacement (Fiber-Cement) (77.6% ROI)

• Average Cost: $17,008
• Average Resale Value: $13,195

Siding Replacement (Vinyl) (74.7% ROI)

• Average Cost: $14,359
• Average Resale Value: $10,731

Window Replacement (Vinyl) (72.3% ROI)

• Average Cost: $17,641
• Average Resale Value: $12,761

Deck Addition (Wood) (72.1% ROI)

• Average Cost: $14,360
• Average Resale Value: $10,355

Window Replacement (Wood) (68.9% ROI)

• Average Cost: $21,495
• Average Resale Value: $14,804

Entry Door Replacement (Steel) (68.8% ROI)

• Average Cost: $1,881
• Average Resale Value: $1,294

Deck Addition (Composite) (66.8% ROI)

• Average Cost: $19,856
• Average Resale Value: $13,257

Nationally—and on the other end of the spectrum—here are the 10 projects with the lowest ROI: Master Suite Addition (Upscale) (51.6% ROI)

• Average Cost: $282,062
• Average Resale Value: $145,486

Grand Entrance (Fiberglass) (53.3% ROI)

• Average Cost: $9,254
• Average Resale Value: $4,930

Major Kitchen Remodel (Upscale) (53.9% ROI)

• Average Cost: $135,547
• Average Resale Value: $72,993

Bathroom Addition (Midrange) (54% ROI)

• Average Cost: $49,598
• Average Resale Value: $26,807

Bathroom Addition (Upscale) (54.7% ROI)

• Average Cost: $91,287
• Average Resale Value: $49,961

Bath Remodel (Upscale) (56.6% ROI)

• Average Cost: $67,106
• Average Resale Value: $37,995

Master Suite Addition (Midrange) (58.5% ROI)

• Average Cost: $136,739
• Average Resale Value: $80,029

Major Kitchen Remodel (Midrange) (58.6% ROI)

• Average Cost: $68,490
• Average Resale Value: $40,127

Roofing Replacement (Metal) (61.2% ROI)

• Average Cost: $40,318
• Average Resale Value: $24,682

Bathroom Remodel (Universal Design) (62% ROI)

• Average Cost: $34,643
• Average Resale Value: $21,463

The 2020 Cost vs. Value Report compared the average costs for 22 popular remodeling projects and how much of that value they retained in 101 different U.S. housing markets. View the full report, including project descriptions and city-level data, here.