It's natural to want to maximize your home's appeal before listing it for sale in Albany or Corvallis, but are bigger renovations worth the cost? The latest Remodeling Impact Report from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) helps answer that question, and we'll use their data to highlight key areas of the home you might consider renovating. Our real estate agents can also provide insight into local market trends and buyer demand to help you determine whether renovating before selling in 2026 could maximize your return.

When Renovating Is the Right Decision

Why Consider Renovations Before Selling

The main reason people choose to renovate before selling is to maximize the home's value and appeal. However, the return on investment you can expect will often vary significantly based on the type of renovations that you choose. In the NAR study, some of the most valuable renovation and remodeling projects were actually smaller ones, where a minimal investment can make a big difference. When planning larger renovations, choosing the right rooms to update is crucial.

How Smaller Renovations Help Sell Homes

The NAR study estimates the cost recovery you can expect from different home upgrades or changes. The best cost recovery, at 100 percent, comes from adding a new steel front door, and a new fiberglass front door is close behind at 80 percent. Also finishing in the top three was a closet renovation, at 83 percent. Replacing a door is a relatively low-cost remodeling project that can really boost curb appeal. While a more involved project, a closet renovation is still significantly smaller in scale than redoing a kitchen or bathroom.

For Bigger Projects, Consider Adding More Living Space

Larger projects rarely fully recover their costs at resale, but some certainly stand out for adding more value than others. The most popular big projects were converting the basement to a living area (71 percent cost recovery) and converting the attic to a living area (67 percent cost recovery). Interestingly, for kitchens, both a complete kitchen renovation and a minor kitchen upgrade scored the same on cost recovery, at 60 percent. That makes kitchens the most popular spot for major renovations, after adding more living space.

The Value of Improving Energy Efficiency

Also scoring very well in the NAR study were adding new vinyl windows (74 percent cost recovery) and adding new wood windows (71 percent cost recovery). The cost recovery of these upgrades highlights the value of considering energy efficiency when upgrading a home before sale. Whether a buyer is conscious of energy use or simply likes to save money, energy efficiency has real value to most buyers. Replacing all the windows is a big project, but smaller, more budget-friendly efficiency upgrades can still add value.

The Bottom Line on Renovating Before Sale

Ultimately, whether you renovate before sale depends on the home's amenities, condition, and appeal. As the NAR study highlights, most renovations don't recoup their full cost, but they can still be valuable tools for selling your home. The best solution is to work with a trusted real estate agent who can advise you on the best path forward for your unique home.

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