Should I Renovate My Kitchen Before Selling? ROI by Tier and Region

Real estate agents love to say "kitchens sell homes." And they're not wrong — an outdated kitchen is the #1 reason buyers ask for price reductions or walk away from otherwise solid properties. But "renovate before selling" advice rarely comes with the data you need to make a rational decision.

The truth is nuanced: some kitchen renovations return 150%+ of their cost at resale. Others return less than 40%. The difference comes down to three variables — the scope of the renovation, your local market conditions, and the condition of the rest of the home. This guide breaks down the ROI by renovation tier so you can make a decision based on numbers, not hope.

Not all renovation dollars return equally. Here's what the data shows for cost recovery at resale: