The single worst improvement in return is an indoor pool room, with a pool in a heated space, because of heating costs, liability and maintenance. Don't overimprove a property, he says. The best return on any improvement is taking a house in the lower third of a neighborhood and bringing it up to the standard in a neighborhood. Per square foot, remodeling dollars are more expensive than new building dollars, Schley says. Components such as electrical are still being brought into play, but for a smaller job.
Some families do the math and opt to move vs. improve.
Of those that stay and remodel their homes, a top target is the kitchen because it's one of the most-used rooms and subject to changes in fashion. Remodeling is a common choice nationally. If the kitchen is a nice place to be, you're more apt to spend more time there. Remodeling keeps your home competitive in the marketplace, says Wilde, who has been licensed to sell real estate since 1973. Some customers, but not all, realize the resale consequences of remodeling their kitchen, says Sue Chapman, a kitchen designer at The Kitchen Center at its Brookfield location.