The Twin Cities numbers
| Project | Job cost | Resale value added | Cost recouped |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garage door replacement | $4,776 | $11,113 | 232.7% |
| Entry door replacement (steel) | $2,397 | $4,268 | 178.1% |
| Manufactured stone veneer | $11,877 | $19,339 | 162.8% |
| Minor kitchen remodel (midrange) | $28,196 | $28,466 | 101% |
| Siding replacement (fiber cement) | $24,666 | $23,578 | 95.6% |
| Deck addition (wood) | $16,565 | $14,164 | 85.5% |
| Deck addition (composite) | $24,619 | $21,010 | 85.3% |
| Bath remodel (midrange) | $27,413 | $21,839 | 79.7% |
| Basement remodel | $52,745 | $41,401 | 78.5% |
| Siding replacement (vinyl) | $19,915 | $15,096 | 75.8% |
| Window replacement (wood) | $26,258 | $18,507 | 70.5% |
| Window replacement (vinyl) | $23,743 | $16,444 | 69.3% |
| Major kitchen remodel (midrange) | $81,187 | $49,839 | 61.4% |
| Bath remodel (universal design) | $43,965 | $26,800 | 61% |
| Roof replacement (asphalt shingles) | $31,900 | $19,191 | 60.2% |
| Bathroom addition (midrange) | $63,184 | $36,425 | 57.6% |
| Bath remodel (upscale) | $84,166 | $33,398 | 39.7% |
| Primary suite addition (midrange) | $175,685 | $67,638 | 38.5% |
| Major kitchen remodel (upscale) | $159,220 | $60,973 | 38.3% |
Source: 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, Twin Cities (JLC / Zonda). Each project is a specific, defined scope; see the report for details.
What the numbers say
- Small exterior projects return the most. A new garage door, steel entry door and stone veneer all added more at resale than they cost. Curb appeal pays.
- Refresh beats gut. A minor kitchen remodel recouped 101%; a major midrange one 61.4%; upscale 38.3%. A midrange bath remodel recouped 79.7%; upscale 39.7%.
- Siding and basements hold value. Fiber cement siding recouped 95.6%, vinyl siding 75.8%, and a basement remodel 78.5%.
- Additions and luxury rarely pay back at sale. Primary suite additions and upscale kitchens and baths recouped under 40%.
What real estate agents say
NAR's 2025 Remodeling Impact Report asked agents what projects add at resale and asked homeowners how happy they were (NAR 2025):
- Top cost recovery: new steel front door 100%, closet renovation 83%, new fiberglass front door 80%, new vinyl windows 74%, basement conversion 71%, complete kitchen renovation and minor kitchen upgrade 60% each, bathroom renovation 50%.
- Top Joy Scores (1–10): added primary suite, kitchen upgrade and new roofing all scored a perfect 10; bathroom renovation 9.8; complete kitchen renovation 9.7; painting one room 9.3; new wood flooring 9.1.
- Buyers are pickier: 46% of buyers are less willing to compromise on a home's condition.
Read these numbers the right way
Cost vs. Value surveys real estate professionals on what a defined project adds at resale (methodology). The report itself says it can't account for every local price variation and is less accurate at predicting a specific project at a specific address, and it advises getting estimates from reputable local remodelers (What the numbers mean). NAR's numbers assume a 2,300 sq ft, post-1978 house with no hidden issues (NAR). Use them to compare projects, not to price yours.
Best bang for your buck
- Selling in the next year or two: curb appeal (doors, siding, paint), a kitchen refresh instead of a gut, a midrange bath update, and fixing anything an inspector will flag. See pre-listing repairs worth doing.
- Staying five years or more: joy counts. Kitchens, roofs and bathrooms topped NAR's Joy Score for a reason.
- Either way: don't over-improve for the neighborhood. The upscale versions of every project recouped the least.