Kitchens and primary bathrooms bring the strongest returns, and smart material choices keep your remodel budget in check.

One question I get asked super often is where a remodel will give you the most bang for your buck. It’s a bit of a loaded question, because the answer depends on what your house looks like right now. Still, the primary bathroom and the kitchen are consistently the two areas where you’ll see the best return.

Big returns come with big budgets. These are also some of the highest-dollar remodels you can take on, so keep your budget in mind before you start pulling anything out.

Pick the kitchen if choosing one. If I had to choose just one, I’d renew the kitchen. It’s where everyone spends the most time, it’s the room people look at the most, and it’s simply where people want to have the nicest things. Not everyone is going to see your primary bathroom. If you’re after more bang for your buck, I’d highly recommend starting in the kitchen.

Focus on counters, cabinets, and appliances. I’d prioritize new counters, a fresher, more on-trend color, painted or redone cabinets, and new appliances. A typical kitchen remodel can run anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000, depending on the materials, the size of the kitchen, and similar factors.

Materials drive most of the cost. Materials are where you’ll run into major costs. Imported Italian marble, for example, will cost much more than typical granite or quartz.

“The kitchen is the area where everyone spends the most time.”

Cabinets work the same way. Ripping them out and replacing them entirely will cost much more than painting or refacing them. Talk with someone before you commit, and decide on the most cost-effective option for you.

Expect a strong return on kitchens. As I mentioned, a kitchen remodel gives you the highest rate of return. It’s hard to say exactly what that return will be. Depending on the finishes and style you go with, I’d estimate you’ll generally get back $1.20 to $1.50 for every dollar you spend, and that’s a really high rate of return for a remodel. If you go to sell your home after making these updates, I’m confident you’ll see a lot more money on the back end.

If you’re planning a remodel or thinking about buying or selling in Phoenix, I can help you figure out which updates make sense for your house. Call or text me at 602-501-9352, email me at sam@thebrokery.com, or visit samlevyhomes.com. I look forward to hearing about your project.