Adding Value

If the house is in poor condition, improvements can increase the sales price.
A thousand dollars spent to improve a home that is in good condition, seldom adds a thousand dollars to its sales price.
Nothing adds value like improvements to kitchens and bathrooms.

Cost vs. Improvement in Sales Price:

Improvement Project	$ Added to sales price for every $1000 spent on project
Minor Kitchen remodeling	$990
Adding a Bathroom	$900
Major Kitchen remodeling	$850
Adding a Family room	$830
Adding a Deck	$700
Replacing Windows	$680
Replacing Siding	$680

Reading the table: On average, a person who spent $1,000 to add a bathroom, saw a $900 increase in the price of his home. The family who spent $1000 to add a deck, saw a $700 increase in sales price.

Note: If you do the work yourself, and cut the cost of adding a deck to $500, you can still expect the $700 increase in sales price. On the other hand, shoddy looking work can detract from the value of a home.