4 Popular High-ROI Post-Covid Home Improvements

A lot has changed as a result of covid – including the expectations people have for their homes.

With remote working now baked into the corporate cake, homeowners now more than ever are creating functional and sustainable spaces that deliver the best possible work-life balance and promote health and wellness in the process.

Here are four areas of the home where homeowners are focusing their renovation spend post-covid and the ROI you can expect from making similar upgrades.

Kitchen

Over the past year, it’s become much more common for people to cook and dine at home. As a result, homeowners across America have prioritized kitchen upgrades.

While kitchen renovations can cost you a pretty penny, the good news is that you don’t need to do a full-blown kitchen makeover to get the aesthetic you want. 

Making minor updates such as upgrading kitchen appliances, refurbishing cabinet finishes and hardware, and installing sleek countertops — and sticking to classic finishes like wood and veneer for cabinets and quartz for countertops — will ensure higher yields during resale. Some homeowners are also opting for copper fixtures as they’re innately sterile and keep allergens and microbes at bay.

With mid-range updates, you’re likely to get a 72% return on your investment, making it one of the top upgrades from an ROI standpoint.

Bathroom

Bathroom remodels are popular due to recent hygiene and healthcare concerns. The demand for hands-free sensors, appliances with voice and motion sensors, and app-controlled systems is at an all-time high to make bathrooms sanctuaries of sanitation.

For example, Kohler’s state-of-art motion sensors and smart-home technologies like auto-close seats and self-cleaning wands using UV light sanitization in toilets are nifty investments.

Similar to kitchen renovations, investing in antimicrobial coatings and materials like copper, non-porous countertops, floors and walls such as quartz, or poured concrete, and vitrified tiles can maintain better health and be lucrative investments. 

According to Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report, you can expect to recoup 60% of the cost of a mid-range bathroom remodel when you sell – a tidy return.

Home Office

According to Owl Labs, around 70% of full-time employees in the U.S. worked from home over the past year and a half; according to workforce analysts, 30% of all employees will still be working remotely by the end of 2021.

As professionals continue to opt for remote working, home office space renovations have become — and remain — popular. In many cases, homeowners are transforming their spare bedrooms, basements, closets (larger ones, of course), and even garages into functional workspaces.

And while the cost of setting up a home office will vary widely depending on your needs, goals, and property layout, you don’t have to break the bank. In fact, you could recoup up to 87% of your investment when it comes time to sell (not to mention all that time you’ll save by not being stuck in rush hour every day!). 

Outdoors

Whether you’re selling or staying put, curb appeal and functional outdoor living spaces add value in terms of appraised value as well as to your everyday enjoyment of your home.

While there are a number of upgrades you can make, here are the ones known to garner a high return on investment:

Garage Doors

Garage doors are consistently at or near the top of the ROI food chain. Why? They’re what you see every time you pull in the driveway and they take up a lot of real estate on your home’s facade. It’s an instant facelift and worth your investment.

Steel Entry Door

Just like with a new garage door, a new steel entry door provides two benefits: aesthetic appeal and security. For those reasons, the relatively low cost of acquisition and installation, and an expected 65% ROI, a new front door is an upgrade worth considering.

Decks

A fresh new deck adds a whole new element of entertaining and relaxation possibilities to your home. Wood decks deliver the highest ROI at 65.8%, followed closely by composite at 63.2%. Either way, you can’t go wrong.

Landscaping

Creating a tastefully landscaped yard doesn’t require you to break the bank. By adding low-maintenance plants, mulch, watering your lawn, and keeping your grass and edging tidy, you can achieve backyard zen on a modest budget.

And, with 75% of agents reporting that well-landscaped homes are worth 1-10% more than homes with no landscaping, your landscaping efforts will have you seeing green in more ways than one.