All home renovation projects are not created equal. When renovating your home, it pays to consider which projects will bring you the best return when it’s time to sell your home. What we think may appeal to a potential buyer, may in fact have been a “wasted” renovation. Of course, when renovating your home, your personal taste and preferences will play a role in the choices you make. But keeping an eye on the renovation projects that consistently provide home owners with a positive return on their investment, may be a smart idea.

Below is a list of the five smartest renovations you can do:

1- Landscaping

Everybody knows how important the first impression is. Increasing the curb appeal of your home will entice potential buyers to step in for a closer look. On average, landscaping the front and backyard will give you a 7% better return on your renovating dollar over the average return on other popular renos you might consider. Simply adding containers of brightly coloured flowers will up your curb appeal. Adding a low maintenance garden for bursts of colour and texture also a good idea. You may also consider a simple water fixture in the backyard to add ambiance.

2- Kitchens

The kitchen is the heart of your home. This is probably the reason why “kitchen parties” naturally happen whenever you have guests over. It’s a room with real value to any family. A kitchen upgrade can really deliver, with a 44% higher return on investment over the average return on other popular renos you might consider. Stainless steel appliances continue to hold a lot of interest in kitchen renovations. Fine grained maple, stained or natural has replaced the old-fashioned heavy oak look. Granite continues to be the most popular choice for countertops but laminates and marble are also good choices. Keep an eye on the latest trends in terms of fixtures. At the moment, brushed nickel finishes are very popular.

3- Paint

Paint is often overlooked when we think of renovation project that can greatly impact the resale value of our home. A simple repainting of walls will give you a 29% return on your dollar over the average. Try to choose neutral colours and accent them with splashes of warm and dramatic colors.

4- Bathrooms

With our stress-filled lives, most of us cry out for rest and relaxation. Tackling a bathroom renovation project will bring you the best ban for your renovation buck with a 56% better return on investment over the average. Your goal should be to create a relaxing, spa like , environment by installing such things as soaker tubs, perhaps a rain shower head or ambiance lighting.

5- Floors

Beautiful looking floors are a great selling feature in any home. It can often make all the difference in the eyes of the potential buyer. This particular upgrade can generate a 22% better return on investment than the average. Start by ripping out those old and dated wall-to-wall carpet. You can sand your existing floors down and refinish them or if there is no hardwood floors under your carpets, you can choose from a variety of engineered hardwood or laminate floors. Using a darker stain will give your floors an elegant yet up to date look.

John Carser is a professional Richmond Hill real estate sales representative. Feel free to contact John for all of your real estate needs in both Richmond Hill and the Aurora real estate markets and related information.