Minor Kitchen Remodel

The number-one value-add renovation, year after year. A minor kitchen remodel — refacing cabinets, replacing countertops with mid-range stone, new hardware, updated appliances, and a fresh backsplash — averages $27,000 and recoups 75-80% at resale. The key word is "minor." The moment you start moving walls, rerouting plumbing, or installing $15,000 La Cornue ranges, the ROI craters. Buyers want a kitchen that looks modern and functional, not one that screams "I spent my kids' college fund here."