We have quite a bit of surge just here lately. Coming through COVID, I just think everybody was at home and looking to see what they can do, Melroy said.

Skiles and Melory both noted that some customers have used their stimulus check to fund projects.

I did have, for instance, one elderly man who needed a garage door opener. He got his stimulus and used it for that, Melroy said.

Remodeling jobs also have increased for Midwest Elite Contracting of Kearney, but the number of new homes the company was to build this year has decreased due to customers jobs or not being able to sell a current home, said owner Austin Gardine.

We were going to do like six houses this year, and four of those backed out. We are going to talk to a few people about doing one or two next year. With new homes there is a lot of conversations and planning, Gardine said.

The uncertainty of this year has made some people apprehensive about taking on big projects, but they have seen an increase in kitchen and bathroom remodels, new flooring and decks, added Gardine.

Gene Knaggs, owner of Knaggs Construction in Kearney, said its unbelievable how busy they have been in the past few months. The company primarily builds new homes, garages, shops and large additions. When the pandemic first began, Knaggs said they only received about one a call a month from customers interested in building. Now they are receiving two calls a week from people looking to build. The company currently is booked through next year.

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Local construction companies say COVID hasn't stopped business; some contractors are busier than ever - Kearney Hub

Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth - Pool/Getty Images

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have paid back all of the public money used to renovate Frogmore Cottage, the Windsor estate they lived in from 2018 to 2019. The royal property, which is 25 miles away from Kensington Palace, got a $3.2 million (2.4 million) structural renovation when they moved there after ditching the toxic halls of the palace. A spokesperson for the couple said that Harry paid a lump sum to the crown to cover costs, and the cottage will still be their U.K. residence.

The renovation was funded by the queen through the Sovereign Grant, the annual funding mechanism of the monarchy, a.k.a. the pot of taxpayer money the crown receives each year for expenses, including the upkeep for royal residences and buildings with historical significance. While a renovation like this is totally standard (and the Sussexes paid for all of the furnishings and fixtures themselves), Meghan and Harry offered to pay back the expenses as part of their financial extraction from the crowns claws.

Back in January 2020 (remember her?) they explained on their website that in addition to stepping back as senior royals, they would no longer receive any public funds. In other words, they wanted to be financially independent, and work to support themselves.

And they have been. Meghan recently narrated a Disney documentary about elephants, and Harry has popped up in a few of his own little media projects. And last week, the two of them signed a big, multiyear, multimedia deal with Netflix to make documentaries, features, and television shows. Our focus will be on creating content that informs but also gives hope, they said in a statement. As new parents, making inspirational family programming is also important to us.

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Meghan and Harry Have Paid Back Their Remodeling Expenses - The Cut

Cherokee Nation officials will construct eight buildings and remodel four as part of the tribes response to COVID-19.

The various projects are estimated to cost about $25 million. The projects include a new health center for Cherokee Nation employees in Tahlequah, a drive-through outreach facility in Stilwell, protective equipment manufacturing in Hulbert and Stilwell, office space for social distancing in Catoosa and Muskogee, and storage and food outreach space in Vinita, Kansas, Belfonte and Jay, according to a news release.

The Cherokee Nation is putting our CARES Act funding from the U.S. Treasury to great use in our Cherokee communities by investing in this $25 million project that will provide jobs and ongoing needed safety equipment, ensure our elders do not struggle with food insecurity through this pandemic, add space for employee safety and provide a new health center for our Cherokee Nation employees that is close to our tribal complex and can treat for a range of illness as well as test for COVID-19, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said in a prepared statement.

Cherokee Nation officials will break ground on nine of those projects throughout Tuesday at their respective sites.

Featured video: Aerial view of property at 31st and Peoria, where there is a plan for a mixed-use development

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Cherokee Nation to start $25 million construction, remodel and manufacturing projects in response to COVID-19 - Tulsa World

Author Irene Richardson - September 8, 2020September 8, 2020

The day after Labor Day is officially declared Telephone Tuesday due to the influx of calls businesses receive after being closed for the three-day weekend. Were here to help you through the chaos with a perfectly laid out business plan for the week, including open jobs and news you need to know.

Hiring? Post your job. Looking? See listings.

Platform Specialist @ Simon Markets LLC. Apply.

Information Security Camera @ServisFirst Bank. Apply.

Senior Consumer Compliance Specialist @ServisFirst Bank. Apply.

Facilities Coordinator @Levite Jewish Community Center. Apply.

Videographer Intern Stipend @Levite Jewish Community Center. Apply.

Teaching Assitant @Levite Jewish Community Center. Apply.

Experienced Remodeling Carpenter @ Irwin Brothers Remodeling Inc. Apply.

FUSE Executive Fellow @ FUSE Corps. Apply.

RN and LPN @ Wexford Health Sources Inc. Apply.

Route Service Sales Representative@ Cintas Corporation.Apply.

Sales Associate Furniture and/or Flooring@ Issis & Sons.Apply.

AmeriCorps Members for St. Clair County@ YWCA. Apply.

AmeriCorps Members@ YWCA. Apply.

Youth Development AmeriCorps Members@ YWCA.Apply.

Pell City Shelter AmeriCorps Members @ YWCA. Apply.

Homelessness Prevention AmeriCorps Members @ YWCA. Apply.

Family Resource Center AmeriCorps Members @ YWCA. Apply.

Educational Support AmeriCorps Members @ YWCA. Apply.

After School Enrichment Program Specialists @ YWCA. Apply.

Domestic Violence Support Americorps Members. Apply.

DMC Center for Civic Life @ YWCA. Apply.

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Tax Accountant @ EBSCO Industries. Apply.

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DataPerk took a big bite out of Birminghams startup scene when it recently acquired ByteSizea local tech company and former competitor. The IT solutions firm is pushing all the right buttons, because DataPerk also houses their sweet office space in theHistoric Mack Truck Garage. Stay tuned to see what this team dishes up next.

Theres one thing filling up Sidewalk Cinemas theaters and its the massive star power featured in Tenet. To make room for Hollywood heroes like Christopher Nolan and Robert Pattinson, while maintaining social distancing guidelines, the cinema isreopening for five weeks to screen the summers most talked-about movie. With heightened safety precautions and a max of 12 patrons in a theater, were grabbing our favorite movie snacks.

Their careers may be diverse, but the goal is uniform among these Birmingham professionals. Not matter where they clock in, when they clock out their mission is the same. Get to know some of the top fundraisers from the2020 National MS Society Birmingham Leaders Challengeand why theyre fighting for a world free of Multiple Sclerosis.

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No crossed signals over herein a technology-driven world, everyone deserves access to those resources. With Birmingham schools preparing for a minimum of nine weeks of online learning, Jefferson County partnered with the Loyalty Foundationand several other local organizations to bridge the digital divide experienced by students and families with virtual education

Get to Know BBA CEO Kenny ColemanWhat: The Birmingham Business Alliance is launching a new video series, Seven Questions, where theyask prominent Birmingham business leaders seven out-of-the-box questions about themselves and their work.Watch the premiere episode

OnBoard BirminghamWhat: Regional job site with resources for job seekers and companies seeking talentExplore jobs

MoodyVirtual Breakfast ClubDate: Thursday, September 10Time:8AM-9AMPrice: FreeRegister

2020 AAF Birmingham TEN AwardsDate: Wednesday, September 23Time:6PMPrice: FreeRegister

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Improving your investment property's value should always be the long-term goal. For one, a higher property value lets you command more in rent. That's an automatic win right there. More than that, though? It guarantees you returns -- good ones -- when it comes time to sell.

Some bumps in value come for free. Your neighborhood might get popular, sending home prices up and your property value up with it. Others, though, you'll need to work for.

Want to give your investment property's value a boost? Here are five ways to do it.

Energy-efficient upgrades help you twofold. First, they reduce your energy and electric bills. Even if that only helps you when the home is occupied, that could equate to serious savings over the years.

Additionally, it also makes your home more marketable. Buyers would much rather pay an extra $5,000 for a house than spend $200 more a month in summer cooling bills.

Here are a few ideas for making the home more efficient:

Curb appeal plays a big role in your home's value, but it can also be very expensive -- especially if you're updating it every season or even annually.

A better option is to invest in more durable landscaping now -- things like large shade trees (this can eventually cut down on your HVAC bills, too), gravel gardens, perennial bushes and ferns, and other plants that will stand the test of time. You could even hardscape or xeriscape the yard entirely -- because what renter really wants to mow the lawn anyway?

Everyone wants a home that helps them lead longer, healthier lives -- and they'll typically pay more for it, too. Consider making some health-focused improvements, like adding an air purifier, installing a water filtration system, or putting in a carbon monoxide monitor. Even little additions can make a big difference for your next tenant.

Lots of home upgrades can boost your property's value -- not just health-focused ones. For some guidance, look to Remodeling Magazine's Cost vs. Value report. It takes into account average costs for various projects as well as the resale value they add to a property. This year, replacing your garage door, adding stone veneer siding, remodeling your kitchen, and installing a wood deck topped the list for highest-ROI projects.

Older HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and other systems mean three things for your future tenants or buyers: more problems, more hassle, and more costs. Whether the system holds on for one more year or five, eventually it will break down and need to be replaced.

That breakdown might mean a flood in the laundry room, a no-A/C week in the middle of summer, or an overflowing toilet when a guest is over. Whatever the issue is, you can bet that your tenants don't want to deal with it (and they'll probably pay more to make sure it doesn't happen).

If you want to raise your rent or just ensure bigger returns once you're ready to sell, investing in your property is critical. Just make sure you choose your projects carefully and focus on long-term benefits for the future buyer (health, energy-efficiency, safety, etc.). That's what buyers are willing to pay the biggest premium for.

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5 Ways to Improve Your Investment Propertys Value - Motley Fool

Last fall our Leadership Team felt we needed to address the outdated appearance of the inside and outside of our facilities.

After much prayer and planning, we launched our Love Life campaign on Feb. 15 with an all church banquet.

We received nearly $30,000 in commitments at the banquet and currently have received nearly $25,000 in contributions, which is very significant for a church our size.

Then, COVID-19 hit our world and we suspended our gatherings for 90 days.

In June, we began to address these issues on the inside. At first, we threw out and gave away dumpster loads of outdated and unused items. That was quite fun.

Then we started in on the remodel. We have enlarged our lobby, updated our walls and floors and improved the appearance of our entire facility. With the new floors and newly painted walls, it is looking beautiful.

We have made several improvements outside as well.

We are also hoping to paint the outside of our building and resurface our parking lot.

We have nearly finished the inside. There is still some furniture to put in place and some trim work that needs to be completed.

Two of our parishioners, Eugene Stillman and Ricky Clifton, have been working nearly nonstop for three full months probably around 400 donated hours by each man. Scott and Sarah Chenault have also given us many hours of their time. Jeff and Rose Blaize and their son, Josh, have completely renovated our childrens department.

What an enormous blessing all these people have been to our church family.

Ellen Blaize, Becky Dilley and Sarah Chenault have been our interior design team. Many others have contributed their time, too.

Although we have spent all that has been contributed, we have written for a grant to help us complete the outside.

One of our members said to me recently, Our facility looks loved.

It really does.

We are thankful to God for his provision and grateful to those in our congregation for helping us accomplish what has been completed.

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Life Church of the Nazarene remodels its facility - The Daily Star-Journal

Patrons who visit the newly renovated Trappeze Pub will notice several upgrades to the restaurant and taproom, but the most immediately recognizable change will be the disappearance of the Highwire Lounge, which occupied the space next to Trappeze at 269 Hull St. prior to the temporary closure of both establishments in April.

We loved the building and loved the space, but it was clear that it had become several different spaces and identities stitched together, said Trappeze general manager Sam Wells, noting that customers often didnt realize Trappeze and Highwire were part of the same business. Its really just the name Highwire thats going away. The space is still there.

Trappeze has continued to expand since its opening in 2007, and the remodeling project was something that had been in the works for some time. During the six months the pub and lounge were closed, Trappeze worked with local contractors to expand while staying within its original square footage, creating a large dining space that will allow for socially distanced tables with little sacrifice to its overall capacity.

Theyve also implemented sanitizing stations, provided weekly on-site testing for their staff, and will require masks for entry and seating.

We obviously werent expecting (COVID-19) to be one of the elements influencing the remodel, said Wells. But it has helped us plan for situations like this, and find better logistical ways to operate and keep everyone safe. Oneta Woodworks built Plexiglas dividers that we put between tables. Were huge nerds for craft beer, craft cocktails, and good pub food, but our No. 1 priority is keeping our staff and community comfortable.

As for the menu, customers can expect the same food including the beloved fries and dipping sauces as before, and the always-changing list of spirits will include gin, whiskey, tequila and cocktails created behind a massive new 80-foot bar that was custom built by Oneta. A completely new draft system with 33 taps was also installed, making beer-serving more efficient.

Trappeze has always been a beverage-forward place, all about craft beer, all about small businesses and local businesses, said Wells. Were not changing anything about that.

Trappeze originally planned to reopen Thursday, Sept. 3, but had a slight delay, pushing the date back to Friday. Should no other issues arise, Trappeze will be open the first weekend of September.

Walls are going up this week! New bar top coming soon... . Pic 2: adding some seating and drinking rails in this nook by the bar. . Pic 3: adding another booth in the corner by this window. Think we should just leave the wall bright yellow? . See yall soon, cheers! #remodel #renovation #trappezepub #hullstreetbrews

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Trappeze Pub to reopen in renovated space. What does that mean for Highwire? - Online Athens

The $55 million project to convert the long-derelict Warwick Hotel on Duncan Plaza into a 154-unit apartment complex for Tulane University's medical students and faculty got underway on Wednesday, after City Hall gave its final approval for the plan.

In February, Tulane University and the property's owner, a privately-owned developer called the New Orleans Redevelopment Fund, agreed to a long-term lease deal after NORF's original plan to revive the property as a hotel had stalled, even before the coronavirus pandemic decimated the city's hospitality industry.

The university's president, Michael Fitts, said the new residential complex is a key part of Tulane's plans to expand its downtown campus significantly as its biomedical operations thrive, especially during the pandemic which has helped to turbocharge the funds available to develop a vaccine as well as for other biomedical priorities.

"We've had the best year in our history in garnering research grants, especially for COVID-19 but also for other research," said Fitts, speaking at a "groundbreaking" ceremony at the site on Gravier Street on Wednesday to mark the start of construction. "This type of research explosionis going to benefit the city, with greater innovation, start-ups, and the expanding the tax base as a result of what goes on down at this campus."

Tulane University has joined NORF, an private investment fund, in a plan to convert the old Warwick Hotel into 154 apartments for medical staff, faculty and students.

Fitts added that the residential expansion project "symbolizes not only the future of Tulane but also the future of New Orleans in so many different ways."

As well as the Gravier Street apartments, Tulane also will be the anchor tenant of the refurbished Charity Hospital around the corner, another property that has been unoccupied since Hurricane Katrina 15 years ago and which is slated for a $300 million rehabilitation. Tulane will be leasing 350,000 square feet of space, 100,000 square feet of which will be converted into laboratory facilities, with the rest given over to teaching space, offices and study areas, to serve approximately 1,000 staff and students.

Mayor LaToya Cantrell, who made the trip across Duncan Square for the ceremony on Wednesday, said that it will be good to see one of the city's long-standing eyesores finally get a makeover. "As I'm sitting over in City Hall and looking over here saying, 'wow, this building sure is one of those armpits I talked about when I was a councilwoman,'" she said. "But you know it always feels good to get a shave."

The Mayor noted plans to move City Hall from the other side of Duncan Plaza on Perdido Street, possibly to the Municipal Auditorium in Armstrong Park, freeing up more space to develop that area of the city as part of the fledgling "Spirit of Charity Innovation District".

"This is part of the growth and transformation that will be in the heart of the city of New Orleans," she said.

The old Warwick Hotel, right, is located near the Tulane University School of Medicine in downtown New Orleans. The building will be converted into an apartment for students and faculty.

At the Warwick conversion, which is expected to be completed in 12 months, the ground floor will have retail, including a restaurant, a caf, and a "grab-and-go" convenience store, which Tulane is also leasing and will rent back to vendors.

Fitts has forecast that the university's research spending will increase by 50% over the next five years, from about $200 million in 2019, driving the expansion of the downtown campus further.

"Five years from now, I'm seeing this as an incredibly vibrant district," he said.

The article has been revised to make it clear that Tulane University is the leasing partner in the project, which is owned by NORF and its investors.

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The $100M project to remodel the Warwick Hotel as Tulane U residence hall: See project details and timeline - NOLA.com

Q&A

Might want to read this before splurging on that ergonomic home-office chair you've been eyeing.

Power Home Remodeling co-CEO Asher Raphael thinks the office is irreplaceable. Hes right: You cant play ping pong from your home office! Photos courtesy of Power Home Remodeling.

When you think of stereotypically utopian workplaces, your mind likely heads straight to Silicon Valley startups, flush with juice bars, mini-golf putting greens, gigantic slides, you get the idea. Where your mind almost certainly doesntgo is to a home remodeling company. And yet, Power Home Remodeling, based in Chester, is routinely ranked as one of the top workplaces in the country. Do they have a slide? No. But there are ping pong tables! Perhaps even more impressively, they take their employees (some 1,800 people) on an annual trip to Mexico.

The pandemic has laid bare plenty of hypocrisy in our society. Heres one minor example: Many of the companies who used to grandstand about their office perks are now grandstanding about their flexible work-from-home policies that allow workers to avoid the office. So has the pandemic killed the office? At least in some industries, the answer looks to be trending toward yes. A study from the Harvard Business School recently predicted that after the pandemic is over, one in six workers will work from home at least 40 percent of the time. Then again, predicting the post-COVID future has often proven to be a futile endeavor. But Power Home CEO Asher Raphael at least knows this: In his opinion, the perma-WFH trend is terrible. So we caught up with him (yes, virtually) to discuss why the in-person office still matters.

Whats the current work from home policy at Power? Have you returned to the office?

Weve not. We shut down the offices in mid-March. And then we also shut down all major business operations. Technically we fall into an essential business, but we decided that we needed to prioritize our peoples health and safety. As of right now, were going to continue to have our offices closed. But the reality is that were not in a rush. Weve proven we can perform virtually. But the long-term plan is that every office completely reopens. So when does that happen, everybody coming back in full again? My guess is it wouldnt be until the end of Q1 or Q2 of next year.

It seems like you style Power Home as a sort of new-age company, in terms of the relationship with the workforce and the perks that you provide, like taking all of your employees on a trip to Mexico every year. Other companies that share the reputation as a forward-looking, visionary type of employer places like Facebook or Twitter are telling workers they can stay home for the foreseeable future, or in Twitters case, forever. Do you think thats a mistake?

Respectfully, I do think that its a mistake. Its an overreaction to a situation that is a moment in time. Im responsible for our employees well-being, and I want them not only, first and foremost, to be healthy, which is why our offices are closed right now, but I want more than healthy. I want people to be happy. And I want even more than happy. What I really look for is fulfillment. And I think a big part of living a fulfilling life is having deep, meaningful relationships with people. Being physically present is an important part of that.

It strikes me as a somewhat cynical move for a company to permanently move everything from the office to home. In a sense its just transferring costs that are normally borne by the employer onto the employee. An employee working at home might now need better quality internet, or a printer, or what have you. Do you see that decision as simply a strategic, bottom-line thing?

Im the least cynical person I know, but I absolutely think that the decision to keep employees at home permanently is a financially based decision, where employers are seeing an opportunity to cut out huge line items from their overhead, and I also think its a knee-jerk reaction to what people are hearing from their employees. Meaning, a lot of employees or prospective employees say, I want to work from home. I dont want to deal with a commute, I want to be able to work from anywhere. But you used the word visionary before. The leader of a business really needs to be a chief visionary officer. You have to see things that other people dont, and not just try to make everyone happy and say yes to everything, but to know what is actually in the best interest of your people.

Im intrigued by that. Youve been ranked a top workplace many times, and I assume that has something to do with the fact that you listen to your employees. A Gallup poll from April found that more than 60 percent of U.S. workers were working from home, and 60 percent of that group would prefer to keep working from home as much as possible. You said earlier that your goal is to make workers happy. If workers say they want to be working from home, does that change the calculus? Or do you think you know whats best?

The thing is, I dont want to stop at happy. I want to go beyond happy and get to fulfilled. And the job of a leader is to listen to your people as one of your information sources, but youre supposed to make decisions that are in their best interest. And to have a vision of something that they might not have yet. And if we just said yes to everything that a prospective employee said they wanted, not only do I think that wouldnt be a way to run a business, but I dont think that people would end up being happy, fulfilled or successful. Our job is to push people out of their comfort zones and to find ways to get more out of them than they even knew existed to begin with.

Furthermore, when you look at those polls that say that employees would rather work from home than come into the office, I think one of the reasons is because employers arent creating a dynamic, enjoyable work environment. If your work environment is not conducive to work, its not conducive to relationship building, if your work environment doesnt allow you to bring your honest true self to work, if your work environment isnt fun, if it isnt inspirational, then of course Id rather work from home. So the real challenge is creating an environment that people want to come to. And that is a very achievable goal.

One of the ironies to me of this work from home push is that, pre-pandemic, all people ever talked about when it came to the workplace was the need for open offices and collaboration. And now employers are saying, Never mind, you dont even need to be in the office. Does that not seem like a pretty massive contradiction?

I think its a total contradiction. Were primarily a millennial organization. And I think millennials are the ones that are actually missing the office more than anyone. Our employees, like I think so many others throughout the country, are feeling real issues of loneliness and anxiety. Specifically those that have been part of a community I think theyre struggling with it. And the overwhelming feedback were getting from our people, who we poll weekly, is that they miss the culture and they miss their colleagues that are more than just colleagues theyre friends and theyre family.

The open office is probably the most notable office reform of recent years, but theres also been talk lately, among some employers, about instituting a four-day work week. Is that something that makes sense to you?

Im the wrong guy to talk about a four-day workweek [laughs]. My organization operates seven days a week, and my goal is to create a work environment and work that people thoroughly enjoy. I dont want Sundays to be a hard day for people because they dread Mondays. I want people to be excited to get back to work. Instead of focusing on work-life balance, I really want to focus on work-life integration that for all the things our employees are passionate about, we offer them avenues within the space for them to dive into.

Do you think theres something self-serving from the business owner who says, I want people to be integrating work and life together? To frame work not just as work but as something so fundamental that youre always kind of working a little bit convince me thats not just you being sneaky and strategic.

I like you challenging me like this. My response to it would be: If Im not aligned with the employees, then that would create a crack in the structure and foundation of the business. I want to be aligned with our people. So that means that the things that I would want from them, or for them, should be in the interests of the business as well. And when thats not the case, theres a problem. The real question is, what is the motivation for the organization? Is it to enrich the life of the owners of the business, or of the employees? My view is that I work for the employees, not the other way around.

You mentioned Mexico. The amount of times people have said, How much money would you save if you eliminated that line item? Thats small potatoes. We spend 2 percent of top-line revenue just on internal events. [Power Homes revenue last year was north of $790 million, according to the company.] Not for a customer or prospective customer just for employees. That investment, I believe, enriches their life. But I also think that it comes back, because theyre happier, more fulfilled, healthier employees. And I dont know a single employee that is more productive when theyre not happy.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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Power Home Remodeling CEO Asher Raphael on Why Perma-Work-From-Home Is a Big Mistake - Philadelphia magazine

Every home is an investment of some kind. For property flippers, its all about a quick and profitable turnaround. For investors, its about making the property as attractive as possible to prospective renters. And, finally, for homeowners, its about building sustainable, long-term valuethe traditional American nest egg. While these three types of property owners may have different goals and objectives, the common thread between them is the importance of adding value to the property and, whether now or in the far future, realizing a strong return on investment.

The best way to add both long- and short-term value to a home is through strategic, value-boosting upgrades. In this article, we review several projects that every type of ownershort-term flippers, property managers, and homeownerscan benefit from completing.

In many respects, a kitchen remodel is the quintessential home renovation project. Given the kitchens importance to American home life, its no surprise that renters and homebuyers have such a love affair with beautiful, upgraded kitchens. According to data from bankrate.com, property owners who invest in a minor kitchen remodel, on average, see a 77.6% ROI. However, its certainly possible to beat the curve and get more out of your project. It all comes down to limiting your upfront costs and maximizing the homes market value.

That 77.6% average is based off the average cost of a kitchen remodel (a little over $23,000). Many owners can complete their remodel for far less. Refacing or repainting existing cabinets, for example, is far less expensive than replacing them altogether. Theres no similar substitute for high-quality stone countertops, but you canand shouldtalk to your contractor about any special inventory or discounts you might be able to get. Then theres the stuff you can complete yourself, like laying flooring, painting walls, and installing lighting fixtures. By limiting your overhead, youll squeeze extra value out of your kitchen remodel.

Next to kitchens, bathroom remodels are one of the most popular pre-sale projects. Just as in that space, the average ROI here is solid: 70.1%, according to data from Zillow. But, you dont have to settle for that. On average, property managers, flippers, and homeowners spend just north of $19,000 on a mid-range master bathroom remodel.

However, bathroom remodels are relatively DIY-friendly projects, so long as you have the time and are not planning on moving walls, pipes, or electrical outlets. Most homeowners are capable of laying their own tile, replacing a toilet, adding new sink fixtures, and putting in a vanity. Doing all this will take a lot of elbow grease, but it also means you avoid thousands in labor costs. Of course, this is well within the wheelhouse of experienced fix-and-flip owners.

These projects should be considered on an as-needed basis. Statistically, a garage door replacement is one of the highest-ROI projects out there (94.5% ROI on average, per Zillow), but doesnt make much sense for the home unless your existing door is damaged or failing. Context is everything here. Generally speaking, if your home has a major defect, youll want to fix that first before moving onto projects purely categorized as upgrades. After all, these flaws may hold up the sale (or rental) of the home and, ultimately, even detract from its value.

Consider your homes cooling and heating systems. If yours are relatively new, regularly maintained, and providing efficient indoor comfort, you can move on to other projects ahead of sale. Conversely, if your HVAC systems are aging (10+ years old), have a track record of performance issues, and are more than likely to get flagged in a home inspection, youre probably better off pivoting and taking care of them first. Replacing an air conditioner or furnace may not be an exhilarating project, but it qualifies as an essential one that will save you a ton of time and headache down the road.

Samantha Johnson is a remodeling writer for Superior Stone & Cabinet, a cabinet and countertop superstore in sunny Phoenix, Arizona.

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Remodeling Projects with the Best ROI - Think Realty