Between your basement, kitchen, and bathroom, there are a ton of renovations with a high ROI. If you’re thinking about selling your home, you’ve probably heard all about which home improvement projects you should be doing to increase your final selling price. While making repairs and updates to your home is always a good idea, there are certain projects that will give you a bigger return on your investment than others. Here are the projects to prioritize if you’re selling your home.
Before you head over to HomeStars and start connecting with pros for quotes, there are a couple of things to take into consideration. The return on your investment depends on the value of your home, the value of homes in your neighbourhood, and the state of the housing market in the area that you live. You need to be strategic about where you spend your renovation budget. You don’t want to give your kitchen facelift if your home is the only one on the block whose roof is visibly falling apart.
Essential Projects
Roofing
One of the most important renovations you can do if you’re looking to sell is to update your roof. No buyer wants to purchase a home they know needs a roof replacement. Even if your home has the most beautifully renovated bathroom, a leaking roof will stop potential buyers from signing on the dotted line.
Below are the average costs of Roofing services across different cities in Canada:
| City | Average | Minimum | Maximum |
| Barrie | $2,995 | $100 | $27,200 |
| Calgary | $1,872 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Edmonton | $2,124 | $100 | $40,000 |
| Hamilton | $3,259 | $100 | $34,000 |
| Oshawa | $2,116 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Ottawa | $2,046 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Toronto | $2,968 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Vancouver | $2,742 | $100 | $50,000 |
*Costs based on 12850 verified Canadian homeowner reviews as of March 2022
Basement Waterproofing
An unfinished basement is one thing, but an unfinished basement that floods is another. No potential homebuyer will care what your basement looks like if they find out it floods every Spring. Instead of investing your money into cosmetic upgrades in the basement, spend every penny on keeping it dry. Imagine if you were the potential buyer. Wouldn’t you notice that musty smell coming from the basement and wonder if there’s more of it? Take the time to address any foundational issues before you list your home.
Cosmetic Updates
Kitchen
It’s likely that prior to reading this article you assumed the best project to do before selling is updating your kitchen. While this is a very important room, it is not the most important. Many homeowners end up ripping out old kitchens and replacing them with their dream kitchens once they have possession of their new home. With this in mind, it would be a waste of your time and money to invest in a total kitchen overhaul. Instead, stick to simple cosmetic updates that will improve the overall look of your kitchen. Consider repainting your cabinets to a fresh and clean white colour if they’re currently covered in outdated wood.
Below are the average costs of Kitchen Planning & Renovation services across different cities in Canada:
| City | Average | Minimum | Maximum |
| Calgary | $14,539 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Edmonton | $15,181 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Hamilton | $20,005 | $200 | $50,000 |
| Oshawa | $23,931 | $1,700 | $45,000 |
| Ottawa | $20,816 | $400 | $50,000 |
| Toronto | $13,483 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Vancouver | $11,342 | $250 | $50,000 |
*Costs based on 1533 verified Canadian homeowner reviews as of March 2022
Bathroom
Another very popular choice when it comes to renovating for resale is the bathroom. An unappealing bathroom can send potential buyers away. While you do not need to do an extensive bathroom overhaul, there are some key things you can have done to make it show better. If your bathroom is cluttered and outdated, take some time to clear it out and bring it into this century. A fresh coat of paint in a neutral colour, updated tiling and fixtures can have a big impact. If you need the help of a bathroom renovation expert, click here to find companies in your area and get quotes now.
Below are the average costs of Bathroom Renovation services across different cities in Canada:
| City | Average | Minimum | Maximum |
| Barrie | $9,816 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Calgary | $8,738 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Edmonton | $7,937 | $150 | $50,000 |
| Hamilton | $15,707 | $150 | $50,000 |
| Oshawa | $14,152 | $300 | $48,000 |
| Ottawa | $11,416 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Toronto | $9,486 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Vancouver | $8,983 | $123 | $50,000 |
*Costs based on 5095 verified Canadian homeowner reviews as of March 2022
With both of these rooms, consider how new or old the rest of your house looks by comparison. If the rest of your home was redone in 2016, but your bathroom hasn’t been touched since the 70s, you’ll want to spend a bit more to bring it up to date. The same goes for your kitchen. This thought process will help you decide just how much work to put into these rooms.
First Appearance
If the inside of your home looks great, but you’re having a hard time getting buyers to come and check it out, you may need to do some work to make it more appealing at first glance. By spending some money on curb appeal, you’ll attract the right buyers and get the ROI you’re after.
New Front Door
A new door can vastly improve your home’s resell value. Not only do modern doors improve your home’s curb appeal, but they can also increase the energy efficiency of your home and decrease the new homeowner’s energy bills. Steel doors, in particular, can have a 100% or higher return. If you’re looking for a simple update that won’t break the bank, a new front door is your best option.
Landscaping
If your beautiful home is surrounded by unruly hedges and dead flower beds, it should be no surprise that buyers aren’t interested. No matter the time of year you’re planning on selling, it’s important you make the outside of your home look appealing. When it comes to landscaping, you can expect to earn up to 100% back on your investment.
Take some time to do your research on the current housing market and what other homes in your area are going for. Once you have a better idea of the market, you can decide what’s reasonable for you to spend on your home. When you’re ready to make some changes, start on HomeStars and find the right pro for your project.
Article updated June 14 2022.
