1. Garage Door Replacement

An insulated steel garage door is consistently the highest-ROI improvement in the national Cost vs. Value Report and has been for more than a decade. Cost typically runs $4,500 to $6,500 installed for a two-car door. Cost recouped at resale routinely exceeds 90%, and often 100%. The reason is simple: the garage door is one of the largest visible surfaces on the front elevation, and a worn door drags the entire curb appeal down. Buyers price what they see.

2. Manufactured Stone Veneer on the Front Façade

Replacing 30 to 40 linear feet of vinyl siding around the entry with manufactured stone veneer costs roughly $11,000 to $13,000 installed and recovers approximately 95% at resale in most South Carolina markets. Stone veneer transforms drive-by perception of an entry-level house into something that reads as premium without changing the floor plan, the systems, or the roof.

3. Minor Kitchen Refresh (Not a Full Renovation)

A minor kitchen remodel — refacing cabinets, replacing the laminate countertop with quartz or solid surface, swapping the appliance suite, updating the sink and faucet, refreshing the backsplash — costs $25,000 to $32,000 in most markets and recovers roughly 80% to 85% at resale. The full $80,000 to $150,000 gut renovation rarely returns more than 55% to 65%, because buyers pay a premium for "updated" but discount aggressively for "luxury" beyond neighborhood comparables.

4. Entry Door Replacement (Steel)

A new steel entry door, installed, runs $1,800 to $2,500 and recovers 95% or more at resale. The combination of energy savings, security improvement, and immediate visual upgrade explains the high recovery rate. A worn entry door is a buyer's first impression — and first impressions translate directly into list-price perception and offer strength.

5. Mid-Range Bathroom Refresh

A mid-range bath remodel — new vanity, new flooring, new fixtures, new lighting, refreshed tile surround, modern toilet — runs $15,000 to $22,000 and recovers roughly 70% to 75%. The full luxury bath renovation rarely returns more than 55% to 60%, for the same reason kitchens do not: buyers expect updated bathrooms but do not pay luxury premiums in non-luxury price tiers.

What Does NOT Recover

Swimming pools recover 50% or less in most South Carolina markets. Sunrooms recover roughly 50%. High-end primary suite additions rarely exceed 55%. Backup generators have recovered better since the 2020s, but still under-perform the visible exterior projects. Solar, depending on system age and lease structure, can hurt resale as often as it helps.

The Resale Math, Plainly

If a remodel costs $20,000 and recovers $14,000 at resale, the homeowner is paying $6,000 for the use and enjoyment over the years they hold the property. That math is fine when the homeowner intends to enjoy the upgrade for a decade. It is not fine when the homeowner intends to sell in twelve months. Match the project horizon to the holding period.