Realtor view: Get the greatest value out of home remodeling

Whether you’ve lived in your home for 10 months or 10 years, there is bound to be something about it you would like to change. Maybe you want to update your master bathroom, or perhaps you’ve been sketching a garage addition.

Whatever your remodeling dreams may be, certain projects offer real-life payoffs when you decide to sell your home. Even if you may not think you will be selling any time soon, it doesn’t hurt to keep your home’s resale value in mind for the future. Here are a few things to consider when planning your home improvements.

Remodeling magazine publishes an annual Cost vs. Value Report that compares the cost for popular remodeling projects to the amount the projects recoup when the homes are sold. According to their latest report, all remodeling projects in the Texas region offer less than a 100 percent return, although some projects come closer to paying for themselves than others.

According to the survey, the project that retained the most value in the Texas region was replacing entry doors (83.6 percent). While that may not fit your idea of an exciting remodel, they are projects that hold their value at resale. Replacing existing siding with fiber-cement siding also scored high (79.6 percent), as did replacing the garage door (74.5 percent).