Remodeling lets you maximize enjoyment of home

Home remodeling is an opportunity to make your old home feel new again, but not all improvements are created equal. Some home renovations are better than others in terms of return on investment.

"In the current marketplace, we're finding that home renovations aren't having the same dramatic impact on home values as they have in the past, which makes it all the more important for a renovation to be about maximizing your enjoyment of your home," said Jim McEneaney, senior regional vice president of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. "It also makes it essential for homeowners to truly understand the varying degrees of impact a specific renovation can have on the value of a property."

According to the 2006 Cost vs. Value Report by Remodeling magazine, the following renovations are a homeowner's best options:

Replacements are king. Replacing windows or vinyl siding received high marks returning 87.2 and 85.2 percent on the investment, respectively. Improving the aesthetics of the property tends to be the primary goal, but experts predict that this trend may also reflect consumers' desire to have a more energy efficient home.

Kitchen + bath. In terms of remodels, kitchen and bathroom renovations continue to offer the highest returns. The average bathroom remodel returns 84.9 percent of the investment while a minor kitchen remodel returns 85.2 percent.

Adding things up. Two-story additions also led in the top projects category over adding bathrooms, decks or sunrooms. The average two-story addition returned 83.2 percent of the investment on average nationally.