Which of the following items if added to a home will recoup 100% or more of its cost at the time of its resale
June 12th, 2009 | 
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hot tub, in-ground swimming pool, tennis court, extra bathroom, fireplace, wood deck, privacy fence, garage converted to living area, extensive landscaping, new exterior paint, new carpet.
Tags:
pool, tennis, deck, fence
Probably none. But new paint and carpet will probably help sell the house best.
In my opinion and past research:
hot tub = 20%
in ground swimming pool = 40%
Tennis Court = 25%
Extra Bathroom = 75%
fireplace = 50%
wood deck = 20%
privacy fence = 10%
garage converted to living area = 0% to negative 100%
extensive landscaping = 30%
new exterior paint = 125%
new carpet = 125%
Hot tubs, pools, tennis courts…those are things some people love and others hate because they take maintenance. If you want them, get them for your own enjoyment, but don’t expect an increase in value. An extra bedroom or bathroom, adding a room or updating the kitchen or bathrooms will recoup the most of the expense, but not 100%. Converting the garage would probably be a detriment to most buyers. New carpet is ok, but keep it and any decorating you might do very neutral. Anything you do, do it for your own enjoyment, not with the expectation that it will increase the value of the home.
Fresh neutral paint and a good scrubbing are the most important things. Remove as much of your personalities from the property. I can’t see myself living in a house with your kid’s pictures all over the place. Put some flowers out front for a little curb appeal. But remember that your taste is not someone else’s and keep it simple.
Probably none. There are no guarantees on what will, some things will recoup more than others in different areas of the country.
The best return on investment is painting and cleaning. A bathroom can be good (probably not a 100%) if you are able to keep the costs down.
I was going to take a chance and I could keep the cost down a bathroom would get my vote. EVERYBODY uses a bathroom. Not everybody uses a pool, a tennis court, a fireplace or deck. Landscaping curb appeal is good, but not extensive. That good be to taste specific.
If things are looking bad, carpet, exterior paint etc, and you are in a buyers market it will be tougher to sell.