Renovations with the biggest bang for your buck
Zonda Home's 2025 remodeling report ranks garage doors, steel doors, stone veneer, fiber-cement siding and kitchen updates as top return-on-investment projects, with backup generators debuting at number seven.
Home renovations are a significant part of homeownership. Naturally, people want to make their own personal marks on the homes they buy and ensure that their properties fit their needs and wants.
While many renovations add value to a home, some offer more value than others. When allocating dollars to renovations, particularly when finances are tight, homeowners may want to direct their efforts to those projects that will offer the highest rate of return on investment.
Each year, Zonda Home, in conjunction with Remodeling magazine, puts together a list of high-return projects. Exterior projects drive the most value for owners who are selling their homes, and they consistently top the list of high-ROI improvements. Here are five projects offering a strong ROI that homeowners may want to consider.
1. Garage door replacement: A garage door replacement is part of the curb appeal improvements homeowners can consider. At an average cost of $4,672, it offers a recouped cost of 267.7% according to the 2025 Zonda report.
2. Steel door replacement: Also boasting an ROI north of 200%, a steel door installation is a wise choice for homeowners who want to drive up the value of their homes.
3. Manufactured stone veneer: Manufactured stone veneer is a manmade masonry product that looks like natural stone but is lightweight and easier to install. It can offer a recouped cost of 207.9% on the $11,702 investment.
4. Fiber-cement siding replacement: Homeowners in the market for new siding can consider fiber-cement siding, which will see the investment recoup slightly more than 100% of its cost.
5. Minor kitchen remodel: Kitchens are the heart of a home, and a minor remodel offers a 113% return. Inside the home the golden rule is to keep things simple. Minor remodels tend to offer a better rate of return than major ones. Buyers will pay for move-in ready and updated, but sellers likely will not recoup the costs for luxury upgrades or over-the-top renovations.
It's important to note that 2025 was the first time a practical backup generator made the list of top improvements. Falling into the number seven spot, the generator averaged a return of 95.3%, which underscores how homeowners are gearing improvements toward the changing climate and unpredictable weather.
Those remodeling primarily to increase equity for future sales may want to consider exterior projects and basic kitchen improvements.
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