A cross-Canada survey of more than 750 Royal LePage real estate salespeople and brokers says a kitchen renovation is the clear upgrade of choice with the potential to boost a property’s value by more than 12.5 per cent. A finished basement or a new bathroom has the potential to increase a property’s value between 2.5 per cent and 12.5 per cent, depending on the investment.
“To financially benefit from a home improvement project, you need to keep potential homebuyers in mind,” says Tom Storey, a real estate salesperson with Royal LePage Signature Realty in Toronto. “While updating a kitchen should increase your sale price, a pool can actually deter families with young children or those who are looking for less maintenance.”
Adding a pool or deck is considered the least worthwhile renovation to increase a property’s value with pricing potential limited to a maximum of 2.5 per cent of the value of the home.
For Canadians looking for more general guidance on where to focus their home projects, most of those surveyed recommended interior renovations (95 per cent) over exterior renovations (five per cent).
“Curb appeal is important, but more time is spent indoors at the open house and that is where buyers typically fall in love with a home,” says Storey. “When renovating with the potential to sell, the most important thing to remember is to use colours and materials that are popular and not too personal.”
The survey showed that prospective sellers are willing to invest less than 2.5 per cent of a property’s value on home renovations prior to listing their home, which represents an investment of up to $15,138 on a property valued at $605,512.
When asked which generation is the most likely to renovate their home, 45.1 per cent of surveyed experts said baby boomers, as many are planning to sell and downsize. They are also most likely to have the funds needed for a significant renovation.
“Baby boomers run the risk of their property selling for a lower price or languishing on the market for longer than expected if they held their property for a long period of time without updating periodically,” says Storey. “Although many buyers can see themselves making home improvements themselves, its very hard for a buyer to get excited or imagine living in a space that is rundown, or the decor reflects another generation.”
