Outdoor Home Improvements Provide Greatest Value: Appraisal Institute

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Mar 20, 2018, 09:00 ET

CHICAGO, March 20, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Appraisal Institute, the nation's largest professional association of real estate appraisers, today encouraged homeowners to prioritize outdoor renovation projects when seeking to increase their potential return on investment.

"The latest data shows that home improvements focused on the outside of a property are most likely to result in a positive cost-to-value ratio," said Appraisal Institute President James L. Murrett, MAI, SRA. "However, spending money on renovations doesn't necessarily generate a dollar-for-dollar return. Bottom line: cost doesn't necessarily equal value."

According to Remodeling magazine's most recent Cost vs. Value report, the projects with the highest expected return on investment are manufactured stone veneer, steel entry door replacement, wooden deck addition and minor kitchen remodel. Other projects with potential payoffs, according to the report, are siding replacement and universal design bathroom.

It may be best to hold off on big renovations if a homeowner isn't sure how long they will be in their home. The longer a homeowner stays in a property, the greater the opportunity for a return on investment.

Murrett advocated that homeowners considering improvement projects compare the planned renovation to what's typical in the local area.

"Renovations that elevate a property well in excess of community norms are typically not worth the cost when the owner sells the home," Murrett said.

For an unbiased analysis of what their home would be worth both before and after an improvement project, a homeowner can work with a highly qualified real estate appraiser – such as a Designated Member of the Appraisal Institute – to conduct a feasibility study. During a feasibility study, an appraiser will analyze the homeowner's property, weigh the cost of rehabilitation and provide an estimate of the property's value before and after the improvement.

"Unlike a real estate agent or broker, the appraiser is an impartial party to any real estate transaction and has no vested interest in the sale of a property," Murrett said.

The Appraisal Institute offers a free, informative brochure titled "Remodeling & Rehabbing," which provides consumers with valuable advice on home improvement projects.

Stay connected with the latest news from the Appraisal Institute on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and our blog, Opinions of Value.

The Appraisal Institute is a global professional association of real estate appraisers, with more than 18,000 professionals in nearly 50 countries throughout the world. Its mission is to advance professionalism and ethics, global standards, methodologies, and practices through the professional development of property economics worldwide. Organized in 1932, the Appraisal Institute advocates equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in the appraisal profession and conducts its activities in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Individuals of the Appraisal Institute benefit from an array of professional education and advocacy programs, and may hold the prestigious MAI, SRPA, SRA, AI-GRS and AI-RRS designations. Learn more at www.appraisalinstitute.org.

SOURCE Appraisal Institute