How to Increase Property Value in 2025

As a busy physician, any property investments you make must be both impactful and relatively practical to fit into your demanding schedule and unique lifestyle needs.

Below, we’ll share several insights on strategic, manageable ways to boost your property’s value.

Whether you’re considering a future sale, building equity for financial stability, or simply looking to improve your living environment, these upgrades are designed to be high-yield and low-maintenance, taking your specific situation into account.

What Home Projects Can Increase Property Value?

1. Enhancing Curb Appeal

The exterior of your home is the first thing buyers and visitors see. When you maintain your front yard well, it can immediately increase perceived value. Some experts suggest that an inviting, appealing curb can increase a home’s value by up to 10%.

Since you likely have limited free time, focus on low-maintenance curb improvements that can make your home more attractive without sacrificing your valuable time and effort. Here are a few options:

Low-Maintenance Landscaping

Xeriscaping

Xeriscape landscaping techniques utilize hardy, drought-resistant plants and native species that thrive in the local climate. These plants look attractive and require minimal watering and care. If you opt for them, they’ll enhance your lawn’s visual appeal, save you time, reduce water bills, and potentially increase your property’s value by up to 15%.

If xeriscaping isn’t to your taste, consider high-quality, low-maintenance grass or installing artificial turf that remains lush year-round with minimal effort.

Yard Edging

Don’t forget to define your walkways, grass beds, and flowerbeds by edging your yard. You can achieve this by lining their edges with gravel or brick, which ensures a tidier appearance.

Entryway Modernization

New Front Door

Your door plays an important role for the first impression of your home. A high-quality, stylish door can significantly boost your home’s curb appeal, especially if it complements its design well and it’s made out of high-quality material.

Moreover, a 2020 national average from Remodeling Magazine indicates that you could recoup up to 68.8% of the cost in added home value by replacing it.

Updated Lighting

Beyond that, consider stylizing your outdoor lights, especially around the entrance and pathway. Energy-efficient lighting, like solar lights or LED fixtures, is attractive and will help you save on energy bills.

Driveway and Garage Touch-Ups

Driveway Touch-up

According to FastExpert, a paved driveway can add up to $10,000 to your home’s value.

However, the extent of this increase depends on the material you choose, whether you’re paving for the first time or resurfacing an existing driveway, your region’s regulations, the project’s scope and costs, and other factors. Still, since most projects cost $2,000 to $7,000, the return on investment (ROI) is often worth it.

Garage Door Upgrade or Replacement

A new garage door or a replacement with modern features can be both a practical and aesthetic improvement. Make sure the design and color match your house’s architectural style.

Luckily, upgrading your garage door is one of the highest home improvement projects ROI-wise. Various reports, including Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report, note that it has an ROI of up to 97.5%.

2. Upgrading Focal Rooms

Certain rooms have a higher impact on your property’s overall value than others. Typically, the kitchen and bathroom hold the most influence—most buyers regard them as focal points of a home that can drastically enhance appeal when updated.

It’s very common for property descriptions to include hooks such as “rustic kitchen,” “farm-style kitchen,” or “art deco bathroom” to attract prospective buyers. Here are some options:

Kitchen Renovations

If you thought that the best way to instantly modernize your kitchen is to replace your old, outdated appliances with high-quality, energy-efficient models (stainless steel or smart appliances), you might be disappointed to hear that that isn’t the smartest financial move.

Instead, consider kitchen islands. They’re among the best projects you can undertake functionality- and ROI-wise, adding up to 70% or 80% of their cost into your home’s value.

However, if a project of that scope isn’t feasible, small upgrades such as quartz or marble countertops, freshly painted cabinets, swapped-out cabinet hardware, a new backsplash, or a new faucet can do the job.

Bathroom Renovations

According to Angi, bathroom remodels usually have the highest ROI, with the national average being about 72.7%.

Focus on replacing your flooring with high-quality, water-resistant materials such as ceramic or porcelain tiles. If you’re in a cold region, installing heated floors will practically transform your bathroom functionality-wise. Accessibility features are also a plus, especially among the aging population who would benefit from support bars, wider doors, and extra space.

You can also replace outdated fixtures with modern high-end ones. For example, install a walk-in shower with a rainfall showerhead, a dual sink vanity with ample storage, and re-do your countertop’s finishes.

3. Adding Functional Spaces

Functional upgrades are valuable for homeowners. If your property has an extra bathroom, fitness area, or designated office space, it’ll help accommodate part of their lifestyle or specific needs.

However, consider the scope of each project and whether the ROI is worth it. Here are a few projects typically undertaken by homeowners and their estimated ROIs.

Project	Estimated ROI
Finishing a Basement	~70%
Adding a Bedroom	~53%–75%
Adding a Bathroom	~72%
Adding a Wooden Deck	~75%
Adding a Backyard Patio	~55%

Other spaces, such as a home office or a dedicated fitness area, may be more of a hit-or-miss as they largely depend on your buyer’s individual lifestyle preferences.

For example, are they a fitness enthusiast? Do they have a remote job? Make sure any projects you undertake fit your target market’s preferences so that you don’t incur a loss from them.

4. Going Energy-Efficient

In the U.S., the property value benefit is estimated at 10% of the value of the energy savings resulting from going green, whether through updating lighting fixtures, installing solar panels, or switching to smart home technology.

The chief reason is the cost savings and convictions; energy-efficient homes are more attractive to potential buyers because they can reduce their living costs or because they align with their environmentally conscious approach to life.

Smart home features, solar panels, insulation, and energy-efficient windows are also seen as modern amenities that add convenience and comfort to a home.

5. Upgrading Flooring and Interior Finishes

Flooring

One of the best ways to increase your property’s value is to replace your flooring. While carpet is often recognized as the standard flooring, it may be regarded as taboo in high-end homes where high-earners, such as physicians, can afford more luxurious options.

Other choices, such as laminate and luxury vinyl planks, have become popular among homeowners thanks to modern technology greatly enhancing their designs and availability. But, for the best ROI (~118%!), you might want to consider hardwood floors. They’re sophisticated, long-lasting, look luxurious, and are attractive to many.

Paint

Painting the interior of your home can yield an ROI of ~107%, while the exterior yields an ROI of ~55%. This makes it one of the best projects you can undertake, requiring minimal costs and adding significant value to your home if you plan to sell it.

However, pay attention that you opt for warm neutral colors (beiges, tans, golds, grays, gray-beiges), as they appeal to a wide range of buyers. Specific colors, particularly the “hots” and “neons,” will usually hurt your home’s value.

Zillow suggests avoiding all-white kitchens and opting for colors such as charcoal gray.

Lighting

Though it’s a minor improvement, the right sconces, light fixtures, and chandeliers can create a more luxurious atmosphere in your home—extra points if they’re energy-efficient.

7. Outdoor Space Additions

Decks and Patios

A wooden deck’s ROI can be up to 75%; a backyard patio, 55%. Both are functional in that they create an inviting outdoor area where your family and friends can relax and enjoy themselves, particularly in warmer climates.

Outdoor Kitchens and Fire Features

Two more additions with high ROIs include outdoor kitchens (55%–200%) and fire features. The National Association of Realtors reported in a 2018 report that homeowners recovered 67% of the project’s cost in home value, and recommended adding a fire feature before selling your home.

8. Routine Maintenance and Small Repairs

Finally, consider regularly inspecting your home and catching any minor issues before they escalate, specifically those related to roofing, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC.

If a potential buyer observes that your home is in top-notch condition, with a neat, clean roof, a well-maintained HVAC system, and modernized plumbing fixtures and electrical panels, they will perceive the home as higher-value and more appealing to their needs.

How Much Do Home Renovation Projects Cost?

For your convenience, here’s a table that outlines the estimated costs and potential returns on investment for each of the home improvements suggested above. Perhaps it can help you budget more effectively and plan your way towards a higher asking price!

Project	Estimated Cost	Estimated ROI (%)	Notes
Xeriscaping/Landscaping	$1,500–$5,000	Up to 15%	Focus on low-maintenance, drought-resistant plants.
Yard Edging	$100–$500	–	Visually appealing.
Front Door Replacement	$500–$2,000	Up to 70%	High-quality doors improve first impressions. Cost is material-dependent.
Energy Efficient Appliances	$200–$2,500	–	Efficient lighting appeals to energy-conscious and green buyers.
Driveway Touch-up/Paving	$2,000/$7,000	Up to $10,000	Cost and added value are material and quality-dependent
Garage Door Replacement	$750–$1,500	Up to 98%	Enhances curb appeal, especially if modern.
Kitchen Island Installation	$3,000–$15,000	Up to 80%	Very functional.
Kitchen Upgrades	$1,500–$8,000	–	Cost depends on upgrades chosen.
Bathroom Upgrades/Remodel	$6,000–$15,000	Up to 73%	Focus on floors, accessibility features, modern fixtures, and storage.
Basement Finishing	$10,000–$30,000	Up to 70%	Very functional. Extra spaces for extra bedrooms, living areas, etc.
Adding a Bedroom	$20,000–$40,000	Up to 75%	Cost depends on the scope, style, and size.
Adding a Bathroom	$5,000–$35,000	Up to 72%	Functional and improves appeal, especially in family homes.
Wooden Deck	$4,000–$10,000	Up to 75%	Functional in terms of outdoor living space usability.
Backyard Patio	$2,000–$10,000	Up to 55%	Increases outdoor usability.
Solar Panel Installation	$15,000–$25,000	Up to 10% in energy savings.	High initial costs, but significant savings on energy over time.
Hardwood Flooring	$5,000–$10,000	Up to 120%	High-end choice. Very appreciated across many markets.
Interior Painting (Neutral Colors)	$1,000–$3,000	Up to 105%	Focus on fresh, neutral tones for wide appeal.
Exterior Painting	$3,000–$5,000	Up to 55%	A fresh coat of paint makes your home look “cleaner” before listing.
Smart Home Features	$1,500–$7,500	–	Very convenient.
Fire Feature (Outdoor)	$500–$5,000	Up to 70%	Increases outdoor coziness.
Routine Maintenance	$500–$3,000 annually	Preventative	Focus on HVAC, plumbing, roof, and electrical.

Take Charge of Your Finances with Physicians Thrive!

Ready to boost your property’s value and maximize your investments?

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