Why remodeling your Fort Worth home is worth it — whether you’re selling or staying

Dalia Faheid
·3 min read

Americans spent $420 billion in 2020 on remodeling their homes, according to the 2022 Remodeling Impact Report, a joint study from the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

“Our study revealed that homeowners tend to undertake a remodeling project for any number of reasons,” said Jessica Lautz, vice president of demographics and behavioral insights at the National Association of Realtors, in a press release. “In some instances, homeowners were content with sprucing up a room with a simple paint job, while in other cases, families decided to take on the task of renovating an entire attic or basement to add additional living space to their home.”

According to the report, 35% of homeowners said the most important result from their remodel was better functionality and livability. And 86% of people said that remodeling one area of their home inspired them to remodel other areas of the house. Upon completion of the project, 22% said they had durable and long-lasting results, materials and appliances. Fourteen percent reported beauty and aesthetics as a result of the remodel.

Which remodel projects were homeowners most satisfied with?

These were the remodel jobs that made the renovators want to remain at the home, or sparked an increase of enjoyment, per the remodeling report:

  • Painting a home’s entire interior

  • Painting one room

  • Adding a home office

  • Hardwood floor refinishing

  • Closet renovation

  • Insulation upgrades

  • Kitchen upgrades

How much value do home renovations add?

The cost of each remodeling project and cost recovery are influenced by several factors, including project design, quality of materials, location, age and condition of the home and homeowner preferences.

“Quite often, an added benefit to home renovations is the possibility of an increase in the home’s value, which is a reason why some people remodel,” Lautz says. “This is especially advantageous to a homeowner who may be considering selling their house or converting the home to a rental property.”

The NAR/NARI report compared the value each project would add to a house during resale with the cost of each job, with refinishing hardwood floors coming in highest at 147% cost recovered. New wood flooring was at 118%, and an insulation upgrade at 100%. New roofing and a new garage door both recovered 100% of the project costs. Kitchen remodels had a 67% recovery rate.

Tips for remodeling your Texas home

Follow these guidelines from Texas Realtors when considering a remodel’s worth.

  • Consider the personal value you’ll receive: The enjoyment or utility you will get from a remodeling job may be reason enough to start the project.

  • Appraised value matters: When a buyer applies for a loan, the lender usually requires an independent appraisal to determine if the home’s value is in line with the purchase price, which can be when the seller finds out the return on the project.

  • Marketability may be improved: While some remodels don’t raise the sales price of a home, they may make the home more attractive to buyers. It may even be the difference between not receiving any offers and getting multiple offers on a property shortly after it goes on the market.

  • Don’t expect a dollar-for-dollar return: Although some renovation projects add more value to a home than others, many factors can impact how much any specific remodel pays off. These include the quality and appeal of the finished project as well as how it compares to similar features of other homes in the neighborhood. In many cases, a home’s sales price will increase, but not as much as the cost of the project.

Where to get financial assistance for home repairs

  • Priority Repair Program — helps Fort Worth homeowners in need of emergency or mechanical system home repairs.

  • Homeowner Repair Program — For residents outside of Fort Worth, Arlington and Grand Prairie, Tarrant County provides home repair assistance for electrical, foundation, plumbing, roofing and weatherization.

  • Help for Texans — The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs assists with home repair, architectural barrier removal and rehabilitation.