Smart remodel ROI, trustworthy contractors, and avoiding renovation disasters

Which Home Renovations Actually Pay You Back?

Thinking about a kitchen remodel before you sell your Charlotte home? Before you spend a dollar, it helps to know which upgrades buyers actually pay for — and which ones just make you feel good.

On the latest episode of Home Story, I sat down with Kendra Kyei, CEO of Pronto & Precise General Contracting here in Charlotte, to talk about smart remodel investing. Her take lines up with the numbers: according to the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report from Zonda and Remodeling Magazine, a minor kitchen refresh — new cabinet fronts, updated hardware, a modern range — recoups roughly 113% of its cost at resale. A full gut renovation of that same kitchen? Often less than half that.

Bathrooms tell a similar story. A midrange bathroom remodel returns close to 80%, while going ultra-luxury in a starter-home neighborhood usually doesn't pay off the way homeowners expect.

Kendra's advice — and mine — is simple: match the upgrade to the neighborhood. A $60,000 kitchen makes sense in a $900,000 home. In a $350,000 home, it rarely does. That's the difference between real equity and just spending money.

If you're weighing a remodel before listing, or thinking through strategic home upgrades and home equity wealth building, that's exactly the kind of conversation I have with clients every day as your Charlotte NC Realtor. Whether you're buying, selling, or building out an investment property, the goal is the same: spend where buyers actually notice.

Catch the full conversation with Kendra — including how to vet a contractor you can trust and avoid renovation disasters — on Home Story with Veronica on YouTube.