What Projects Actually Add Value to Your Home in 2026?

By Jacqueline Smith

Jacqueline Smith is dedicated to serving the vibrant Vancouver/Portland real estate market. Since stepping into the industry in 2014, I hit the ground running selling 52 homes in my first year and now have my hand in selling over 1700 properties.

One of the most common questions we get asked is what projects homeowners should take on to increase their home’s value. It’s a great question, and the answer matters more than most people realize. The right upgrades will help you sell faster and for more money. The wrong ones will eat into your profit and leave you frustrated. Before you pick up a hammer or call a contractor, here are three things every homeowner should know.

1. Skip the expensive mistakes. It’s tempting to go all-in on a high-end kitchen remodel or luxury landscaping, but the numbers tell a different story. A major upscale kitchen remodel returns just 36% of what you put in, according to the Cost vs. Value Report.

That means for every dollar you spend, you’re getting back less than 40 cents. And the worst mistake of all is leaving a project half-finished. Buyers want homes that feel clean, complete, and move-in-ready, not a work-in-progress. If you start a project, finish it. That missing cabinet or halfway-done tile job could end up costing you more than you think.

2. Focus on first impressions. This is where your money really counts, and the data backs it up. A simple garage door replacement can return up to 268%, making it the highest-return project in the country for the second year in a row. A new steel entry door can return around 216%. Inside, we recommend focusing on mid-range updates like new countertops and fixtures.

A minor kitchen remodel is returning about 113% right now, compared to that 36% for a major remodel. You can also tidy up the yard, replace worn carpet, and stick to light, neutral paint. Those are always solid investments because buyers want homes that feel fresh, updated, and ready to move into. First impressions matter more than almost anything else, and most buyers decide how they feel about a home before they ever step inside.

3. Don’t cut corners on the contractor. Our biggest piece of advice here is to skip Craigslist and Marketplace and call us instead. We’ll connect you with one of our preferred vendors whom we know, like, and trust to do a great job and take great care of you. Cutting corners might seem like a way to save a little money, but it usually ends up costing you more in the long run.

Even if you’re not planning to sell your home right now, we are always happy to be a resource for you. We would much rather you call us and get professional insight than guess and end up investing in the wrong thing. Things are always changing. You might have a job relocation, unexpected family matters, or any number of life events that cause you to sell sooner than expected. We always want to make sure that if you’re investing money in your home, you’re doing it with the advice of a professional real estate team that knows what the market can bear in specific neighborhoods.

If you have any questions at all about the real estate market, your home value, interest rates, or just want our opinion on what’s happening out there, we’re always happy to talk real estate. Reach out to us at 360-800-1334 or email us at jacqueline@evergreenrealestatepartners.com. You can also visit blog.evergreenrealestatepartners.com for more tips and resources. We look forward to hearing from you.