According to the 2010-2011 Remodeling magazine Cost vs. Value Report, these updates bring the best return based on their cost and the value they add to your home.

1.  New Front Door.  Return on Investment: 102.1 percent. A new 20-gauge steel front door that's half glass will cost you $1,218, but will boost your home's resale value by $1,243, netting a return of 102.1 percent

2.  New Garage Door.  Return on Investment: 83.9 percent. If your garage door faces the street, replacing it improves a big portion of the front view of your home for a small price tag. Be sure to match the new garage door to the style of your home. [more]

3.  Fiber-Cement Siding.  Return on Investment: 80 percent. Adding new siding is like buying a new coat for your house, and fiber-cement siding is the chic choice, especially if you live in an upscale neighborhood. When choosing siding, do as the neighbors do. If they're using vinyl siding, go with vinyl.[more]

4.  Build A Wood Deck.  Return on Investment: 72.8 percent. A small 16 x 20-foot wood deck with a bench, planter and a few steps down to the yard creates a natural transition from indoor to outdoor spaces at an average cost of about $11,000. A longer-lasting composite deck will run you closer to $38,000, and it has a much smaller expected return: 57.7 percent.[more]

5.  Minor Kitchen Remodel.  Return on Investment: 72.8 percent. The trick to getting a solid kitchen remodel return is to restrain yourself. Walk away from the granite countertop (unless you can find inexpensive remnants) and the custom cabinets. With a budget of around $22,000, you can reface cabinets, add a new laminate countertop, sink and faucet, and still have enough money to lay a resilient floor.[more]

6.  Window Replacement.  Return on Investment: 67.5 percent to 72.6 percent. Returns for different types of windows range from a low of 67.5 percent for upscale wood windows to a high 72.6 percent for upscale vinyl windows.

7.  Attic Remodeling That Adds a Bedroom.  Return on Investment: 72.2 percent. An attic remodel that converts an unused attic into a bedroom and adds a bathroom with a shower will cost an average of $51,428. That's not cheap, but it's still half the cost of creating a master suite addition from the ground up and you won't lose any yard to this project[more]

8.  Basement Remodel.  Return on Investment: 70 percent. Coming in at an average cost of about $65,000, remodeling an unfinished basement to add a 20 x 30-foot gathering space, a 5 x 8-foot bath and a 10-foot wet bar creates a man cave that's also great for kids' sleepovers, book club meetings and visits from the grandparents.[more]


9.  Major Kitchen Remodel.  Return on Investment: 68.7 percent. If your kitchen remodeling plans call for stripping the room to the studs and starting over, you'll spend an average of about $58,000 for semi-custom cabinets, an island, mid-range appliances, laminate countertops, resilient flooring and custom lighting. Expect to see about 68.7 percent or about $40,000 come back at resale.[more]

10.  Two-Story Addition.  Return on Investment: 65 percent. A two-story addition can be a painfully expensive remodeling project. The payback is just 65 percent, and the amount of cash you'll use is stupendously high: $165,243 on average.  If you decide to go for this project, be careful not to improve your home beyond the size and finish of the other homes on your block, or you'll end up with an even lower remodeling return.[more]

Source: www.frontdoor.com/Home-Finance