8 Home Remodeling Projects That Are Worth the Money

Add value to your home.

Even if you're not planning to sell your home anytime soon, it's an inevitable question when you consider remodeling: How much will this improvement add to the value of my home? Much of the time, the answer is not as much value as it costs to actually make the improvement. But some home renovations provide more return on investment than others. Here are six midrange projects that provide the most bang for your buck, according to Remodeling magazine's 2014 Cost vs. Value report.

Steel entry door replacement

The top-ranking home improvement? A new front door, which on average adds 96.6 percent of the amount you spent to the value to your home, according to the report. But "it has to be the right front door," cautions Steven Aaron, owner of the Steve Aaron Realtor Group at Keller Williams Beverly Hills and one of the protagonists of the HGTV series "Selling LA."

Wood deck addition

Homeowners who add a wooden deck, which costs an average of $9,539 nationwide, recoup an average of 87.4 percent of the project's cost when they sell the home, according to the report. Keep in mind that municipalities typically require a permit to build a deck.

Attic bedroom

Renovations within the existing envelope of your home -- those that don't require you to build an addition or expand the roof and foundation -- often return more value than building extra rooms onto your home, and they're much cheaper. Converting an attic into a bedroom ranked third of the 35 improvements in the report, returning an average of 84.3 percent of the amount spent.

Garage door replacement

Upgrading your garage door can significantly enhance curb appeal. According to the Cost vs. Value report, replacing a garage door costs an average of $1,534 and yields an average 83.7 percent return on the amount spent.

Minor kitchen remodel

Updated kitchens still bring a significant payoff, especially at resale time: A minor kitchen remodel adds an average of 82.7 percent of the project's cost back to the home's value. Kitchens are important, Aaron says, because would-be buyers often overestimate how much they cost to update. The average cost of a minor kitchen remodel -- new cabinet doors, appliances, countertops, sink, faucet, paint and hardware -- was $18,856 nationwide, according to the report.

Window replacement

Perhaps it's time increase the energy efficiency of your windows. Swapping existing 3-by-5-foot, double-hung windows with insulated wood replacement windows costs an average of $10,926, and returns an average of 79.3 percent of the amount spent, according to the report. Insulated vinyl replacement windows cost about $1,000 less and return an average of 78.7 percent of the amount spent.

Siding replacement

The national average to replace 1,250 square feet of existing siding with new vinyl siding, including all trim, is $11,475, according to the report. On average, the project will return 78.2 percent of the amount you spent to the value to your home.

Basement remodel

A basement remodel isn't cheap: Finishing the lower level of a house to include an entertaining area and a full bathroom costs an average of $62,834 nationwide. You can expect to recoup an average of 77.6 percent of the project's cost when you sell the home, according to the report.