Which Home Improvements Add the Most Value to Your Home

We have remodeled dozens of homes here in East Texas over the years. Whether you are working on your own home or an investment property, one thing I have learned is to always spend your money where you will get the highest return. Think through each project carefully before you start.

If you are thinking about updating or remodeling your home, put your money into the areas that will add the most value while spending as little as possible.

Here are the main projects I would recommend. We will go deeper into each one below.

  • Paint
  • A new garage door
  • Faux stone
  • Kitchen updates
  • New siding

Paint

The top thing you can do to update your home is a fresh coat of paint inside and out. It is amazing how much paint can change the look of a home. Hiring it out can get costly, but many homeowners can tackle the job themselves if they take their time and work on one area at a time.

A New Garage Door

When people think about updating a home, they usually think about the kitchen or bathrooms, which can be costly. One of the biggest changes you can make to the outside of a home is a new garage door. We have replaced garage doors on many homes, and it has always updated the look right away. Some older homes have carports that can easily be enclosed. If you enclose the carport and add a garage door, you can add real value, and you can usually recover the cost of the door when you sell.

Faux Stone

Another easy update is adding faux stone. You can add it around the front door, over a brick fireplace, or on the corners of the house. This type of stone is easy to install, and many homeowners can do it themselves. Pick a stone that complements your home, and it will update the look right away.

Kitchen Updates

A third area to consider is the kitchen. I am not talking about a major tear out, but simpler updates. You can replace the appliances, replace the cabinet doors, install new hardware, and put in new countertops and a new sink. Even just painting the cabinets and walls can update the kitchen and add value.

New Siding

Another update that can be costly but will definitely add value is fiber cement siding, sometimes called concrete siding. Many older homes have vinyl siding that starts to sag or pull away from the house over time. It does not stay flat and straight, and that makes a house look like it has problems. Removing the vinyl and installing fiber cement siding can make the home look almost new. It can last for decades, stays straight, and takes paint very well, so a quality exterior paint job can go many years before it needs to be redone.

You can always go back with new vinyl siding, which is cheaper than fiber cement, but it does not look as good or add as much resale value.

Paying for the Improvements

If you decide to borrow for these improvements, two common options are a home equity loan or a cash out refinance. A home equity loan is basically a second mortgage, and the money is used for the improvements. If you have been in your home for years, a cash out refinance is another option and can be more flexible.

As you can see, some well thought out improvements can increase the value of your home and make it easier to sell. Or they can simply make the home more enjoyable for you and your family for years to come. These do not have to be major tear out projects. Mostly cosmetic updates can completely transform the look of a home.

Update, October 2026

I wrote this in 2021, and these are still the projects I would start with. The big change is the cost of borrowing. Freddie Mac's weekly average for a 30 year fixed mortgage was 7.28% on October 1, 2026. If you already have a low rate on your home, a cash out refinance would replace it with a much higher one, so a home equity loan or line of credit, or simply paying cash for smaller projects, may make more sense now. Talk to your lender and run the numbers both ways.

You can see some of the houses we have brought back, along with my running journal of East Texas projects, at greg-mckinney-mineola-texas.com.

Greg McKinney, Mineola, Texas

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