Home Improvements That Pay Off in Salt Lake City: What 2025 Utah Remodeling Data Shows

If you own a home in Utah, you've probably wondered which projects actually add value and which ones are mostly for your own enjoyment. Both are fine reasons to remodel. But if you're thinking about selling in the next few years, it helps to know which upgrades tend to earn back their cost when a buyer walks through the door.

One of the best tools for answering that question is the annual Cost vs. Value Report from Zonda, published through the Journal of Light Construction (JLC). It estimates what common remodeling projects cost and how much of that cost they add to resale value. Best of all, it breaks the numbers out by city, including Salt Lake City. Here's what the 2025 Salt Lake City data shows and how I'd think about it as a homeowner along the Wasatch Front.

Small Exterior Projects Lead the Pack

The clearest pattern in the report is that modest, curb-appeal projects outperform big remodels. In Salt Lake City, according to the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report:

• Garage door replacement: an estimated job cost of $4,785 with an estimated resale value of $14,990, or about 313% of cost recouped.
• Steel entry door replacement: an estimated cost of $2,446 and resale value of $4,386, about 179% recouped.

Why do these do so well? First impressions. In many Utah neighborhoods the garage door is one of the largest visible surfaces on the front of the house, so a fresh, well-chosen door changes the whole look of the home in listing photos and from the street. A solid new front door does something similar on a smaller scale. Neither project takes long, and both are easy for buyers to notice.

A Minor Kitchen Refresh Beats a Major Overhaul

Kitchens still matter a lot to buyers, but the size of the project makes a big difference. The 2025 report estimates that a midrange minor kitchen remodel in Salt Lake City costs about $27,871 and adds about $30,593 in resale value, roughly 110% recouped. A minor remodel in the report means updating what's already there: refacing cabinets, new counters, a new sink and faucet, updated appliances, flooring and paint, without moving walls.

Compare that with a midrange major kitchen remodel, which the report estimates at about $79,909 with roughly 51% recouped, or an upscale major remodel at about $161,009 with roughly 39% recouped. If your kitchen is functional but dated and you plan to sell, a focused refresh is usually the smarter move.

Practical Projects That Hold Up Well

Some projects aren't exciting, but they address things buyers and inspectors care about. In the 2025 Salt Lake City figures:

• Asphalt shingle roof replacement recouped about 86.5% of its estimated $30,373 cost.
• Manufactured stone veneer recouped about 86.6%.
• Backup power generator recouped about 85.7%.
• Basement remodel recouped about 75.8%, which is worth noting since so many Utah homes have basements with room to finish or update.

A roof near the end of its life can also become a sticking point during inspections and negotiations, so replacing it ahead of a sale can help a transaction go more smoothly even beyond the numbers above.

Big Additions Rarely Pay for Themselves

At the other end of the list are large, expensive projects. In the 2025 Salt Lake City data, a midrange primary suite addition recouped about 26.5% of cost, an upscale primary suite addition about 17%, and a backyard patio about 27.7%. An accessory dwelling unit recouped about 47.7%.

That doesn't mean these projects are a bad idea. If you're staying put for years and the addition makes your home work better for you, that value is real. It just means you shouldn't count on getting most of the money back at resale.

How to Use These Numbers

A few practical takeaways before you start a project:

• Treat the report as a guide, not a promise. These are estimates based on surveys of real estate professionals. What your home gains depends on its condition, your neighborhood, and what comparable homes have.
• Fix before you upgrade. Deferred maintenance, like an aging roof, worn-out water heater or damaged siding, often matters more to buyers than a fancy finish.
• Match the neighborhood. Upgrading well beyond nearby homes rarely pays off in full.
• Think about timing. If you're selling in the next year or two, lean toward curb appeal and light refreshes. If you're staying long term, choose what makes your home better to live in.
• Get local advice first. A quick conversation about what buyers in your area expect can save you from spending on the wrong project.

Thinking About Selling? Start With Your Home's Value

Before you spend a dollar on upgrades, it helps to know where your home stands today and which improvements make sense for your specific property and price range. I'm happy to walk through it with you, with no pressure and no obligation.

Call or text me at 801-857-5831, email dan@vanswedenrealestate.com, or request a free home valuation. I serve homeowners across Utah, Salt Lake, Davis, Weber and Wasatch counties.

Source: Remodeling 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, Salt Lake City data, © Zonda Media, published via JLC (jlconline.com). Figures are estimates and actual results vary.