When it comes to home improvement, upgrades may have a better ROI than homeowners think
 
 
If you’re like many people 50 or older, your biggest asset may not be your 401(k) or IRA. It’s your house. And if you’ve been thinking of cashing out to downsize or move to a less costly region, you’ll want to maximize your gain through strategic home improvements.
 
 
That means laying out money to give the place the curb appeal it needs to sell quickly and at the highest possible price — which can be money very well spent.
 
 
According to the 2016 Remodeling magazine Cost vs. Value survey, the average return on home-improvement projects was 6.7 percent higher than it was a year earlier, handily beating the inflation rate of 1.4 percent.
 
 
Simple replacements can give you a better return than major remodeling projects — about 4 percent more, on average. Manufactured stone-veneer siding and front door replacement, for example, have better returns on investment than kitchen and bath projects.
 
 
Returns will vary by region. Where home prices are high and job growth is strong, you can count on a higher payback, says Craig Webb, editor of Remodeling.
 
 
Nationally, the average return at resale for the 30 projects surveyed was 64 percent (up from 62 percent in 2015), or $64 for every $100 spent, assuming the home was sold within a year.
 
 
9 Improvements Worth the Money
 
 
(Percent of the project you recoup, on average)
 
 
Best Home Improvement with Positive ROI’s
 
 
 
 
Insulate the attic: 117% ROI 
 
 
 
 
Replace the entry door: 91% ROI 
 
 
 
 
Refresh the kitchen: 83% ROI 
 
 
 
 
Get new siding: 75% ROI 
 
 
 
 
Build a wood deck: 75% ROI 
 
 
 
 
Replace the roof: 72% ROI 
 
 
 
 
Remodel the basement: 70% ROI 
 
 
 
 
Add a family room: 68% ROI 
 
 
 
 
Renovate the bathroom: 66% ROI 
 
 
 
 
[Source: AARP.org 
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