If you’ve been wondering where to put your renovation dollars right now, I’ve got some genuinely exciting news for you. The ROI landscape for home improvement has shifted dramatically, and some projects that used to be so-so investments are now delivering returns that will blow your mind. I’m talking about projects where spending $5,000 can realistically translate into $10,000 or more in added home value — especially if you’re willing to roll up your sleeves and do some of the work yourself.
I’ve been tracking the home renovation ROI numbers for years, and right now we’re in a genuinely unique window of opportunity. With interest rates high and most homeowners locked into low fixed-rate mortgages, people aren’t moving — they’re improving. That means investing in your home today so you’re ready to capitalize when the market shifts back toward sellers is one of the smartest financial moves you can make. In this post, I’m breaking down nine specific home renovation projects with high ROI, telling you exactly what to expect whether you hire it out or go the DIY route, and giving you the honest advice you need to make the right call for your situation.
It all comes down to three things: how much time you have, how much skill you bring to the table, and how much money you want to invest. Whether you’re a seasoned DIYer or just getting started, there’s something on this list for you. Let me walk you through all nine projects so you can start planning your biggest return on investment year yet.
1. Kitchen Renovation — Up to 200% ROI If You DIY
Here’s something I never thought I’d say: the kitchen is now one of the best places to spend your renovation money. For years, I was not a fan of kitchen remodels from an ROI perspective. A major renovation used to get you maybe 75 cents back on every dollar you spent. That made it a tough sell. But the market has completely changed, and now a full kitchen renovation — we’re talking new lower cabinets, new upper cabinets, new flooring, moving walls — can deliver up to 96% ROI when you hire the entire project out. Round that up and you’re essentially breaking even while getting a brand new kitchen.
But here’s where it gets really exciting for DIYers. If you tackle a kitchen remodel yourself, I’m talking about a 200% or more return on your investment. That means you can literally double the money you put into the project. A project like this on a dated 1980s kitchen can run $60,000–$100,000 when fully contracted, but if you do the labor yourself, you’re looking at mostly material costs. You could update the marble tile backsplash, swap in a new faucet, install a tile backsplash, and refresh the entire space. Even a lighter remodel — painting the cabinet doors, swapping out appliances, and updating the flooring with luxury vinyl plank — delivers fantastic returns. If you’ve got a budget kitchen renovation in mind, now is genuinely the best time to pull the trigger.
My advice: if you’ve got a home you bought in the 80s with a kitchen that hasn’t been touched, this is your year. Get it done, get it looking fresh and modern, and be ready for when the market swings back to sellers. Use a Butcher block countertop for a high-end look at a fraction of the cost, add a light fixture upgrade, and you’ll be amazed at the transformation. Just don’t rip out a perfectly functional newer kitchen — that’s where you lose money.
2. Garage Door Replacement — 200% ROI in Today’s Market
This one surprises a lot of people, but garage door replacement has quietly become one of the best bang-for-your-buck projects you can do. Four years ago, replacing your garage door was essentially a break-even proposition — you’d spend a few thousand bucks and get roughly 100% back. Not bad, but not exciting either. Today, that same project delivers a 200% return on investment. Spend $4,000–$5,000 on a quality garage door replacement, and you’re essentially doubling your money in added home value.
If you’ve got hockey puck damage, a door your teenager backed into, or just an old worn-out door that’s killing your curb appeal, this is a no-brainer project. I’d recommend going with a whisper-quiet side gear drive system for the best result. And I’ll be straight with you here — this is one project where I’d say hire the pros. Garage door installation is specialized work with real safety implications, and the companies that do it are very focused and professional at exactly this task. You’re still making great money even hiring it out, so let the experts handle this one.
3. Building a Deck — 85% Hired Out, 200%+ If You DIY
Everybody needs an outdoor living space, and a deck delivers on two fronts: serious ROI and genuine quality of life improvement. When you hire a contractor to build a deck, you’re looking at about 85% return — solid, but not spectacular. That’s because deck building is labor-intensive, and contractor labor costs eat into your return. But if you’re willing to build the deck yourself, you’re looking at over 200% return on investment. That’s because materials are the majority of the cost, and your labor is free.
A 400-square-foot cedar deck can be done for just over $5,000 in materials, and it’s absolutely a project the whole family can get involved in (just keep the six-year-old away from the circular saw). You’ll want a solid table saw, a good hammer, joist hangers, and plenty of 2×4 lumber to frame it out right. If you’re budget-conscious, pressure-treated lumber will save you money up front. If you’re planning to stay in the home long-term, composite decking is worth the upgrade — it won’t rot, it won’t splinter, and it’ll outlast even you. Check out my guide on how to build a picture frame floating deck with no concrete for a great starting point.
4. Front Door Replacement — 180% ROI
Curb appeal has always been king when it comes to selling a home, and nothing makes a first impression like your front door. The numbers on this one are eye-opening right now. Hiring a professional to measure, supply, and install a quality front door will run you $3,000–$4,000 for a top-grade contractor-access door — and you’ll get 180% ROI. That’s almost doubling your money just by replacing one door. If your current door is faded, damaged, or just has no personality, this is one of the easiest wins on this entire list.
Now, if spending $3,000–$4,000 on a single door isn’t in the budget right now, I completely understand. You can still head to your local Home Depot, pick up a solid exterior door, and install it yourself. I’ve made videos on exactly how to do this — including how to cut and install a new light panel in the door. Pair the new door with fresh door hardware, a fresh coat of paint using Sherwin Williams paint, and you’ll have a stunning entryway for a fraction of the contractor price. Whether you spend $400 or $4,000, updating your front door is one of the smartest home renovation projects with high ROI you can do this year.
5. Stone Veneer Facade — 150% ROI
Adding a stone veneer to the exterior of your home has been a strong investment for years, and right now it’s delivering 150% ROI — up from 100% just four years ago. This is especially popular in southern states where stucco exteriors are common, but it works beautifully on almost any home style. The look is dramatic: running a few feet of stone veneer along the base of the home with a little lintel detail immediately elevates the curb appeal and adds a sense of permanence and quality that buyers respond to emotionally.
I’ll be honest with you — this is one project where I’d lean toward hiring it out even if you’re a capable DIYer. Stone veneer installation is material-cost-heavy rather than labor-heavy, so the DIY savings aren’t as dramatic as with other projects. The difference between hiring it out and doing it yourself is smaller here, and getting a truly clean, professional result takes real skill. Spend your DIY energy elsewhere and let a skilled mason handle this one. You’ll still walk away with a 150% return, and the result will be flawless.
6. Siding Replacement or Painting — Up to 500% ROI If You DIY
Here’s one that has a huge range depending on your approach, and that range is exactly what makes it so interesting. If you hire a crew to replace your siding entirely — new material, new color scheme, updated fascia — you’re looking at about 88% return. That’s decent in any market. But if you DIY the siding replacement, you jump to over 200% ROI. And if you go the painting or staining route and do it yourself? I’m talking about a 500% return on investment because it’s almost entirely labor.
Painting the facade of your home or staining brick to change the color is one of the most powerful equity-building moves a DIYer can make. The materials cost is minimal — good Sherwin Williams paint or Benjamin Moore exterior paint, an extendable roller stick, some Ladders, and a quality paintbrush for cutting in — and your return is extraordinary. If you have older aluminum siding from the 60s or 70s like I’ve seen on many homes, it can actually be in surprisingly good shape and paint up beautifully. If you’re not comfortable on a ladder or don’t want to tackle the cutting-in work, hiring a painter gets you 100% return — you don’t lose a dime. I’ve made videos on both painting siding and staining brick if you want to learn the technique.
If you’re going for a full siding replacement with modern materials like LP Smart Side panels, you’ll also want to have Tyvec house wrap underneath and quality Hardie trim boards to frame it all out. Done right, it’s a project that transforms a home completely.
7. Landscaping, Hardscaping, Fences, and Sheds — 150% to 375% ROI
The psychology of home buying is actually pretty simple: if everything looks great from the street, people want to buy. That’s why investing in your yard — landscaping, hardscaping, privacy fencing, a well-built shed — pays off so consistently. Hire a professional landscaping crew this year and you’re looking at 150% return. The window is good right now because pros haven’t fully adjusted their pricing to the new market reality yet, which means you can still get great deals. That won’t last forever.
But as a DIYer, you’re looking at up to 375% return on all of this outdoor work. Installing a fence yourself using a Post Pounder, an earth drill or auger, and PostSaver sleeves to protect your posts is incredibly rewarding and cost-effective. Building a shed, laying pavers for a patio, adding stepping stones through garden beds, installing Edging Material along your beds — all of this adds up to serious curb appeal and serious equity. I keep a good set of Yard tools on hand including a quality shovel, a weed eater, a Chainsaw for tree work, and a pole pruner to keep things tidy overhead.
For bigger landscaping reshaping jobs, renting a skid steer can save you days of hand labor. Use a edging tool to get clean bed lines, lay down landscaping fabric under your mulch or stone, and use a wheelbarrow and tamper when laying patios. The goal is simple: make your home look like the best house on the street. When the market shifts back to sellers, that matters enormously. Check out my post on 5 DIY outdoor curb appeal projects you can do this weekend for some quick wins.
8. Basement Finishing — 70% Hired Out, 230% If You DIY
Basement finishing used to be one of the more disappointing ROI conversations I’d have with people. For a long time, hiring it out got you only about 50% of your money back. That number has improved — today you’re looking at around 70% when you hire a contractor — but the real magic happens when you do most of the work yourself. A DIY basement finish delivers about 230% return on investment, making it one of the best long-game projects on this entire list.
Here’s how I’d approach it: hire a licensed plumber for any rough-in bathroom work, hire a licensed electrician to run your panel and rough-in circuits, and tackle everything else yourself. Frame the walls with 2×4 lumber, install LED lights or LED shop lights, add switches, lay down luxury vinyl plank flooring, hang drywall, paint, and finish it off with baseboards and Crown molding. Use spray foam to seal any gaps and keep moisture and drafts out — that’s critical in a basement. I’ve got a full walkthrough in my post on basement finishing on a budget that’ll take you through the whole process.
To give you a real-world example: I recently ran into someone who used videos from my channel to renovate his basement. Contractors quoted him $250,000 for the project (about $150 per square foot from scratch — which is normal in today’s market). He ended up spending $85,000 in materials doing it himself. When you apply that 70% contractor value to his $250K quote, he more than doubled his $85K investment. That’s the power of DIY on a big project. It’s not a weekend job, but it’s absolutely doable — and the payoff is incredible.
9. Interior Painting — 500% ROI as a DIYer
I saved what I think is the most accessible and arguably most impressive project for last: painting the interior of your home. Before I had to manage expectations and say hiring a painter was a good but not great investment. Now? Hiring a painter to do your interior gets you 100% return — you don’t lose a single dollar. But if you pick up a paintbrush, an extendable roller stick, some quality Sherwin Williams paint or Benjamin Moore, and a good primer and do it yourself, you’re looking at a 500% return on investment. That is not a typo.
Interior painting is the single lowest barrier to entry project on this list. Your tool investment is minimal — a couple of quality brushes, a roller, an extendable roller stick, some masking tape, and a tarp. For around $100 in tools, you can do professional-quality work that adds thousands to your home’s perceived value. Fresh paint in modern, neutral colors makes every room feel bigger, cleaner, and more move-in ready — and buyers will pay a premium for that. Take it one room at a time, go at your own pace, and watch your home transform. It’s genuinely one of the most satisfying and financially rewarding things you can do as a homeowner. For color ideas and technique tips, check out my post on paint ideas for a home color makeover.
Tips and Best Practices for Maximizing Your Renovation ROI
Before you dive into any of these projects, there are a few things I want to make sure you keep in mind so you actually see those returns.
Talk to a real estate agent first. Before committing to a major project, get a realistic picture of what homes in your neighborhood are actually selling for with those upgrades completed. I can tell you that a kitchen renovation delivers 200% ROI as a general rule, but if your neighborhood caps out at $300K and you spend $80K on a kitchen, the math won’t work in your favor. Know your market before you write a single check.
Be selective about which contractors you hire. In today’s market, the best contractors are booked 6 months to a year out. That’s not a bad sign — that’s actually how you identify the good ones. If someone can start your project next week, ask yourself why. Specialized installation businesses (garage doors, doors, windows) are typically very professional because they’re hyper-focused on one type of work. For bigger projects, patience pays off.
Budget realistically. A rough starting point for basement finishing: if you have framed, insulated walls with electrical and rough-in plumbing already in place, budget around $100 per square foot. If you’re starting from bare concrete with no rough-in bathroom, budget $150 per square foot. Don’t accept quotes significantly below those numbers — you’ll get what you pay for.
Match your project to your timeline. The whole strategy here is to use this higher-interest-rate period to invest in your home so you’re ready when the market shifts back toward sellers. You don’t have to rush. A basement can take a year. A deck can be done in a weekend. Play to your strengths and your schedule.
Start with paint if you’re new to DIY. It’s the lowest barrier, the highest percentage return, and a skill that will serve you on virtually every other project you ever tackle. Once you’ve painted a room well, your confidence for bigger projects goes through the roof.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which home renovation project has the highest ROI right now?
In terms of percentage return, interior painting and exterior painting/staining both deliver around 500% ROI as a DIY project. That’s because the cost is almost entirely labor — your own — with minimal material expense. For larger projects, a DIY kitchen renovation or basement finish can deliver 200–230% returns, meaning you more than double every dollar you spend. The key variable is always how much of the labor you’re doing yourself.
Is it better to DIY or hire out home renovation projects for ROI?
It depends on the project. For labor-intensive projects like painting, decking, basement finishing, and landscaping, DIY dramatically increases your return — often tripling or quadrupling it compared to hiring out. For specialized installation work like garage doors, front doors, or stone veneer, hiring professionals still delivers excellent returns (150–200%) and the precision of experienced installers is worth it. The rule of thumb: if the project is primarily labor, DIY wins. If it’s primarily materials or requires specialized skills, hiring out still pays.
How do I know how much to spend on a renovation project?
The best starting point is a conversation with a local real estate agent. Get a realistic ceiling on what your home can be worth in your neighborhood with the renovations completed, then work backward from there. There’s such a thing as over-improving for your market — spending $100K on a kitchen in a $250K neighborhood is a losing proposition no matter how great the renovation is. Let your neighborhood’s value ceiling guide your investment ceiling.
What’s the best first home renovation project for a beginner DIYer?
Interior painting, without question. The tools are inexpensive, the learning curve is manageable, the results are immediate, and the ROI is extraordinary — around 500% if you do it yourself. It’s also a skill that directly applies to nearly every other renovation project you’ll ever tackle. Start with one room, take your time, watch a few technique videos, and you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish. Once you’ve painted a room professionally, your confidence for bigger projects like budget DIY home improvement projects grows enormously.
Ready to Start Building Equity in Your Home?
The bottom line is this: right now is one of the most financially rewarding times in recent memory to invest in your home. Whether you’re tackling a full kitchen renovation, replacing your garage door, building a deck, refinishing a basement, or simply picking up a paintbrush and refreshing your walls — every single one of these nine home renovation projects high ROI will move the needle on your home’s value. The market is telling you to act, and the numbers back it up.
My advice? Pick one project from this list that fits your budget, timeline, and skill level. Start there. Finish it. Then start the next one. A year or two from now, when interest rates come down and buyers flood back into the market, you’ll be the best-looking house on the street — and you’ll have the equity to show for it. If you have questions about any of these projects or want to share what you’re working on, drop it in the comments. I love hearing what you’re building.
