Renovating your home? Prioritize enhancements that bring joy now, plus profit later.

A home’s value is often thought of as an objective statistic, tracked by closing prices and tax assessments. But its worth along the way is harder to measure when taken in units like weeknight dinners and Sunday mornings. 

Is it possible to marry the two and do renovations that both enhance the quality of life while living in the home and add value to a future sale? Experts in the field say yes.

Kitchen and bathrooms

Kitchen and bath projects accomplish improvement in both “enjoyable daily use” and long-term value, said Hans Nagrath, a managing director for Compass real estate.  

“A functioning, stylish kitchen is also the single most important renovation you can do, because it elevates the whole house,” he said. It’s the starting focal and function point of many homes and can put a buyer at ease who can save the effort of picking their own fixtures and finishes.

“A primary bathroom really sells a house,” said Nagrath. “The kitchen is the heart of the home, but the bathroom — especially the primary bathroom — is like the indulgence of the home.”

Boston.com