Cost-effective renovations

By Appraisal Institute of Canada

Thinking of someday selling your home? Check out these home improvements and the corresponding rate of return on the amounts invested.

To renovate your home and increase its market value in anticipation of selling it one day, here are several types of improvements and the corresponding rate of return on the amounts invested.

Highest return

• Bathroom upgrade: 75 percent to 100 percent
• Kitchen upgrade: 75 percent to 100 percent
• Interior or exterior painting: 50 percent to 100 percent

Medium-level return

• Roof replacement: 50 percent to 80 percent
• Replacement of furnace or heating system: 50 percent to 80 percent
• Finished basement: 50 percent to 75 percent
•  Addition of family room: 50 percent to 75 percent
•  Fireplace: 50 percent to 75 percent
•  Installation of hardwood floor: 50 percent to 75 percent
•  Construction of a garage: 50 percent to 75 percent
•  Doors and windows: 50 percent to 75 percent
•  Deck: 50 percent to 75 percent
•  Central air conditioning: 25 percent to 75 percent

Low return

• Landscaping: 25 percent to 50 percent
• Interlocking paving stones on driveway: 25 percent to 50 percent
• Asphalt driveway: 20 percent to 50 percent
• Fence: 25 percent to 50 percent
• Pool: 10 percent to 40 percent
• Skylights: 0 percent to 25 percent