Best Home Improvements for Resale Value in 2026

Homeowners spend an average of $18,000 on pre-sale improvements. Most of that money goes to projects that feel important but return pennies on the dollar. The kitchen you love? Returns 30–50% of cost at resale. The garage door you ignore? Returns 100%+.

Resale ROI doesn't follow intuition. It follows buyer psychology and appraiser methodology. Here's what the 2026 data shows.

Flooring is one of the finishes buyers compare room to room. Before you price a replacement, look at flooring installation costs by material .