Exterior upgrades continue to deliver the best return on investment (ROI) in Orange County’s housing market. If you’re looking for the most impactful, cost-effective improvements, focusing on the home’s exterior is still the smart move.  Inspired Remodels, a local Orange County general contractor shares 5 updates that return the greatest ROI. Not surprisingly, four of the five upgrades impact the curb appeal of the home and only one can be seen from the interior.

Entry Door Replacement (Steel)

Adding or updating a steel entry door returns the greatest bang for the buck in Southern California.  According to Zonda Media’s 2024 Cost vs. Value Report, the money you spend on a new steel entry door returns about 300% of the cost in added home value.

Factors such as a relatively low cost for materials and labor compared to the positive high impact on exterior appearance make this update a no-brainer in the bang-for-the-buck department.

Garage Door Upgrade

This perennial ROI winner falls to second place in 2024, behind the entry door replacement. For many years, garage door replacement topped the ROI lists.

Like the entry door, garage doors won’t break the bank and add an incredible amount of curb appeal to homes.

These days, people opt for wood-look doors, doors with windows, and doors with architectural embellishments. No longer just a functional panel you raise when you take the SUV in and out, garage doors contribute to the overall style of the home.

With an ROI of 293.8% on average in this area, a garage door upgrade or replacement continues to be a great way to add value and curb appeal to your Orange County home. 

Manufactured Stone Veneer

This product mimics the looks of natural stone. However, it costs less and is easier to install than natural stone, allowing it to pack a real ROI punch.

Depending on the amount of manufactured stone veneer installed, you can reap an ROI of up to 220% on a $12,000 project.

Don’t relegate stone veneer to the front of the home. This material’s versatility makes it the perfect choice for the backyard as well.

Create a Grand Entrance

Welcome home!  Impress yourself, neighbors, and visitors with an impressive entryway. Removing the existing door, reframing, and adding sidelights and a new door create an awe-inspiring entry to your home.

This type of project requires more materials, more detailed work, and more labor than other exterior upgrades, so the ROI drops to 163%. Quite an impressive return on creating an impressive entrance to the home.

Minor Kitchen Remodel

This is the only interior project of the top 5 projects with the highest ROI. A minor kitchen remodel keeps the same layout, updates the cabinet fronts, replaces the flooring and appliances, and adds new hardware and countertops.

You can expect to see an ROI of about 139% with this type of update. However, this return doesn’t consider the energy savings from replacing old appliances with energy-efficient new appliances. Use the Southern California Edison Marketplace to compare the energy efficiency of your appliances before you purchase. Once you factor in energy efficiency, you may find your ROI is higher.

One Orange County General Contractor For All Your Needs

Whether your goal is ROI on the sale of your home or just a more modern, functional, and beautiful space, Inspired Remodels is the Orange County general contractor for all your needs.

From whole house remodels to kitchen renovations and shower remodels, let Joe Mueller turn your remodeling dreams into reality.

Schedule a consultation today.