Home Projects with the Highest ROI (and Joy) in 2025

If you’ve been debating whether to remodel your home or just live with the quirks, here’s something to consider—the right updates can seriously increase your home’s value and your personal enjoyment, especially in a dynamic market like San Diego County.

According to the 2025 Remodeling Impact Report from the National Association of REALTORS®, Americans spent a whopping $603 billion in 2024 on home renovations. And in competitive markets like Greater for San Diego and surrounding cities such as La Mesa, Santee, down to Chula Vista and up to San Marcos and Carlsbad, these renovations aren’t just aesthetic upgrades—they’re strategic investments.

With 46% of buyers now less willing to compromise on condition, updating your home isn’t just about taste—it could directly impact your bottom line if you decide to sell.

But before you start gutting your kitchen or opening up that living room wall, let’s dive into the projects that bring the biggest returns and the highest emotional satisfaction, especially for San Diego homeowners.

🔨 Highest Cost Recovery Projects in 2025

Let’s start with ROI. Whether you’re in Encinitas, Mission Hills, or Eastlake, these home upgrades are delivering top returns in today’s market:

• New Steel Front Door: 100% cost recovery
• Closet Renovation: 83%
• New Fiberglass Front Door: 80%
• New Vinyl Windows: 74%
• New Wood Windows: 71%
• Basement Conversion to Living Area: 71%
• Attic Conversion to Living Area: 71%
• Complete Kitchen Renovation: 60%
• Minor Kitchen Upgrade: 60%
• Add New Bathroom: 56%
• New Primary Suite: 54%
• Bathroom Renovation: 50%

👉 San Diego Pro Tip: In neighborhoods like University Heights or La Mesa, where many homes are older, even minor kitchen and bathroom updates can dramatically improve appeal without full-scale renovations.

And don’t underestimate the small stuff—fresh paint or updated light fixtures can offer immediate visual impact at a low cost.

😊 The Projects That Bring the Most Joy

📥 [⬇️ Download CHARTS HERE (2 charts – add your logo!)]

Now let’s talk about the emotional ROI. The Joy Score (on a scale of 1 to 10) measures how happy homeowners are with their renovations—and these projects ranked the highest:

• Added Primary Bedroom Suite: 10/10
• Kitchen Upgrade: 10/10
• New Roofing: 10/10
• Bathroom Renovation: 9.8/10
• Complete Kitchen Renovation: 9.7/10
• Paint 1 Interior Room: 9.3/10
• New Wood Flooring: 9.1/10
• Basement Conversion to Living Area: 8.8/10
• Paint Exterior Siding: 8.8/10
• New Front Door: 7.5/10
• New Siding: 7.3/10
• Garage Door: 7/10

👀 What San Diego Homeowners and Others Are Saying:

• 64% felt a greater desire to be home after remodeling.
• 46% experienced increased enjoyment in their space.
• 55% said they felt a major sense of accomplishment after finishing a project.
• 92% would do even more remodeling if money weren’t a factor.

🏡 Remodel Now, Enjoy Now—Sell for More Later

Just because you’re not listing tomorrow doesn’t mean you shouldn’t remodel today. Most homeowners (27%) took on projects to update worn-out finishes, not to prep for a sale. Only 18% said selling was a near-term goal.

In San Diego’s appreciating market, especially in zip codes like 92103 (Hillcrest) or 92024 (Encinitas), even modest improvements can pay off big over time. And with the region’s outdoor lifestyle and high curb appeal standards, exterior upgrades like new doors, siding, and windows go a long way.

🧠 Matt’s Local Insight: Prioritize curb appeal, outdoor living areas and intimate settings. Updating kitchens, bathrooms, and windows go a long way, including simple small items such as updating hardware throughout the home. Let’s be real, homeownership is personal ~ it’s where you toss your keys and lay your head, it’s filled with hopes and dreams and drama too. If you’re overwhelmed or don’t know where to start, call me, especially if you think you might be moving in the next 3-5 years… I can help share custom insight to help you funnel those wants and dreams into reality while keeping a focus on your joy score and maximizing your returns on investment.

Bottom Line

Whether you’re prepping to sell or just craving a more functional, beautiful home, the right remodeling projects can boost your home’s value and your personal joy—especially here in San Diego, where every improvement has the potential for a return.