And when it comes to the return on investment, some projects now offer the highest return values in history — with a few home upgrades averaging returns of nearly 200% for the first time ever — according to the 2024 Cost vs. Value report from Zonda Media, a housing market research and analytics firm. Garage door replacements offered the highest average return at 194%, followed by upgrading to a steel front door, with a 188% return on investment — both worth nearly double what they were last year, the report found. Curb appeal is keyForget a designer chef's kitchen, the projects offering the greatest returns in resale value are mostly related to curb appeal rather than more glamorous kitchen and bath remodels, according to Zonda's report. In fact, nine out of the top 10 projects with the highest return on investment were exterior improvement projects, the report found. Only three projects on Zonda's list can typically deliver even a 100% return on investment, including replacing the garage doors, upgrading to a steel front door and installing a stone veneer.

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Persons: Clay DeKorne, Zonda's, DeKorne, Angelica Ferguson VonDrak, Todd Tomalak, Tomalak Organizations: Zonda Media, Finance, Photodisc, Getty Locations: Rhinebeck , New York