Updated October 2026. Six practical ways to add value to your home, with the cost recovery figures from NAR and NARI’s 2025 Remodeling Impact Report and notes for North Carolina owners.
The projects that add the most value per dollar are small and visible. In NAR and NARI’s 2025 Remodeling Impact Report, a new steel front door recovered an estimated 100% of its cost, a fiberglass front door 80% and a closet renovation 83%. Agents most often told sellers to paint the whole home (50%) and replace the roof (37%). Fix the roof first, then work on the front door, lighting and clutter.
Jump to: 💲 What pays back · 🏠 Roof · 📸 Front door · ⏱️ Lighting · 📍 North Carolina · ❓ FAQ
Key takeaways
- A new steel front door recovered about 100% of its cost at resale in NAR and NARI’s 2025 report.
- Agents recommend painting the whole home (50%), one room (41%) and new roofing (37%) before listing.
- Kitchen upgrades (48%) and new roofing (43%) saw the biggest jump in buyer demand, per the same report.
- North Carolina’s typical home value was $332,200 in September 2026 (Zillow ZHVI), so small projects matter in relative terms.
Owning a home is one of the great joys of life. It’s where you relax and spend time with family, and it’s an investment you hope grows. Raising its value doesn’t have to mean a big remodel. These six ideas run from a weekend DIY project to a contractor job, and we’ve added the numbers so you can see which ones pay back.
Which home improvements pay back the most?
Every year, NAR and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry ask remodelers what share of a project’s cost a homeowner gets back at sale. They also ask agents which projects to do before listing. Here are the 2025 figures for projects in this guide.
| Project or advice | 2025 figure | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| New steel front door | 100% | Estimated cost recovered |
| Closet renovation | 83% | Estimated cost recovered |
| New fiberglass front door | 80% | Estimated cost recovered |
| Paint the entire home | 50% | Agents who recommend it before listing |
| Paint one interior room | 41% | Agents who recommend it before listing |
| New roofing | 37% | Agents who recommend it before listing |
New roofing also scored a perfect 10 on the report’s Joy Score, a measure of how happy owners were after the job. Americans spent an estimated $603 billion on remodeling in 2024, the report says, so you’re not alone in this.
1. Should you check and repair your roof first?
Yes. A sound roof protects everything else you’d improve. Look for missing shingles, leaks, stains on ceilings or sagging. The team behind goldenroofingcontractor.com says ignoring roof problems can lead to bigger issues later, including water damage, mold and even structural damage.
A good roofing contractor can find and fix problems quickly. Regular checks save money and give you peace of mind. If you’re selling soon, a roof in good shape takes a big item off the buyer’s inspection list. Our guides on why roof inspections matter and why the roof is a key asset cover what an inspector looks for.
2. How much value does a new front door add?
The front door is the first thing people see, and it’s one of the best-paying projects in the 2025 report. A new steel door recovered about 100% of its cost; fiberglass, about 80%. If the frame and hardware are fine, a fresh coat of paint is the cheaper version.
Pick a color that suits the house and the street. A bold shade catches the eye in listing photos; a classic one never looks dated. New hardware, a clean threshold and a working doorbell finish the look.
3. Does energy-efficient lighting raise home value?
LED bulbs last much longer than old bulbs and use less power, so they lower your bills. Swapping them in is quick, and buyers notice bright, even light at showings and in listing photos. Pick a warm white for living areas and a brighter white for kitchens and baths.
Lighting is one piece of a more energy-efficient home. Sealing drafts, adding insulation and servicing the HVAC also help. Read 4 Advantages Of Led Lighting You Didn’t Know About and Energy Efficiency 101: 4 Things To Start Replacing At Home.
4. How can you add charm to the outside of your home?
Small touches lift curb appeal. A decorative mailbox, new house numbers and a lamp by the walkway cost little and show up in the first listing photo. Trim shrubs, edge the lawn and add a pot of flowers by the door. Outdoor design matters more than many owners think; see Why Outdoor Design Matters for Boosting Your Home’s Value.
5. Should you bring the outdoors inside?
A covered patio or porch can feel like extra living space when it flows from the inside. An outdoor rug, two chairs and a small table make it easy for buyers to picture using it. Keep indoor decor simple so the space feels open. For ideas that fit a classic interior, our post on the beauty of Victorian dining sets shows how one strong piece anchors a room. For more style ideas around the home, browse a few décor roundups before you buy.
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Buy a home →6. Does decluttering really increase home value?
It doesn’t change the appraisal, but it changes how buyers see the space. Clear counters, half-empty closets and bare floors make rooms look bigger. That’s why a closet renovation recovered an estimated 83% of its cost in the 2025 report: storage sells.
Start with one room a weekend. Donate, sell or store what you don’t use. Then stage the main rooms: in NAR’s 2025 Profile of Home Staging, the rooms agents staged most were the living room (91%), primary bedroom (83%) and dining room (69%).
In what order should you tackle these projects?
Do the fixes before the finishes. A buyer’s inspector will find a leaking roof or a tired water heater, and no paint color makes up for that. A simple order works for most homes: safety and water first, then the things buyers see first, then comfort and style.
- Roof, gutters and anything that lets water in.
- Paint and the front door.
- Lighting and small energy fixes.
- Decluttering, storage and staging.
Set a budget for each step and keep receipts. Improvements can raise your cost basis, which may lower the tax when you sell.
How can North Carolina owners increase home value?
The same projects work in North Carolina, but scale them to your price. Zillow’s index put the state’s typical home value at $332,200 in September 2026, down 0.2% from a year earlier. In Greensboro it was $260,600. In a flat market, condition and presentation decide which homes sell first.
- Fix the roof, gutters and drainage before anything cosmetic.
- Paint and replace the front door: cheap, visible and high on the cost recovery list.
- Service the HVAC and keep the record for buyers.
- Declutter and stage the living room, primary bedroom and dining room.
North Carolina sellers also pay an excise tax of $1 per $500 of price at closing, so factor it into your net. More ideas: How To Increase The Value Of Your Property? and interior finishing details that increase home value.
Ready to sell? Check your number with our property value calculator, then list with a flat fee MLS listing for $99, $0 due to Beycome at closing. Beycome lists in 17 states and DC, including North Carolina. Want a Zillow plan too? Read How Do I List My House for Sale on Zillow Effectively.
Frequently asked questions
What adds the most value to a home?
In NAR and NARI’s 2025 report, a new steel front door recovered about 100% of its cost, ahead of a closet renovation (83%) and a fiberglass door (80%). Updating closet fronts too? See the best glass for bifold doors.
Does painting increase home value?
It’s the top pre-listing advice: 50% of agents in the 2025 report recommend painting the whole home before selling, and 41% one room.
Is a new roof worth it before selling?
Often, if the old one is failing. 37% of agents recommend new roofing before listing, and buyer demand for it rose for 43% of agents.
How can I increase my home value in North Carolina?
Fix the roof and drainage, paint, replace the front door, service the HVAC and stage key rooms. The typical NC home was worth $332,200 in September 2026.
Do small upgrades really make a difference?
Yes. Paint, a front door, lighting and decluttering cost little and show up in listing photos, which is where most buyers first see a home.
Cost recovery figures are estimates from NAR and NARI’s 2025 Remodeling Impact Report and vary by market. Home values: Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026. Beycome prices as of October 2026; “$0 at closing” means no Beycome fee at closing, while taxes, title and any buyer-agent compensation you agree to still apply. General information, not financial advice.
Sources
- NAR, 2025 Remodeling Impact Report news release, read October 27, 2026.
- NAR, 2025 Profile of Home Staging, read October 27, 2026.
- Zillow Research, Home Value Index, September 2026 snapshot (North Carolina, Greensboro).
- North Carolina G.S. 105-228.30, excise tax, read October 27, 2026.
- IRS Publication 523, improvements and basis, read October 27, 2026.
- Beycome, listing package features, October 2026.
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