I like to keep up my knowledge of remodeling, by reading what is important now in home renovations.  I read a report by Clopay, about curb appeal most recently.  They partnered with an independent research firm, to conduct a nationwide survey  as a response to the Hanley Wood Remodeling 2018 Cost vs. Value Report (www.costvsvalue.com), since Remodeling magazine has been doing their study for three decades and the results have always been different, they wanted to get a second opinion.

According to the Clopay report, Realtors estimate that upgrading a garage door can increase the perceived selling price of a home by up to 4%, depending on the style (I bolded that to draw attention to the fact that the look and style of the garage door matters).

The Cost vs. Value Report says the approximate $3,470 cost for an upscale garage door replacement delivered an estimated $3,411 when the house sold. That’s a 98.3 percent ROI on average, nationwide.  Read more about the report here for more about how updating a garage door really does impact resale value.  Garage door replacement ranks No. 1 in costs vs value and nearly pays for itself!  In fact an upscale garage door replacement may actually recoup more than 100% of it’s cost.   © 2018 Hanley Wood, LLC. Complete data from the Remodeling 2018 Cost vs. Value Report can be downloaded free at www.costvsvalue.com

If you aren’t sure, just know that while this is the first time garage door replacement has ranked number 1, it has been consistently in the Top 5 for many years!  So this is a great place to start.  Don’t believe me?  Check out the report for some AMAZING before and afters!

Considering that many of us live in houses that heavily feature the garage door as a main focal point and most often the garage door that exists with the house is less than stellar, this investment into your home can have great results! We’ve shared several virtual curb appeal makeovers focusing on garage-heavy homes here previously, and these additional real-life examples show how upgrading a basic garage door to an upscale garage door really enhances the curb appeal of a home, which in turn adds value to your home.

For example, this house is stunning to begin with, but updating the garage doors made the garage an asset to the look of the home!

We often hear from readers who want to update the curb appeal of their brick homes, without painting the brick — just look at how the new garage door improved the curb appeal of this home!

Here’s another home, that was beautiful to begin with — but the garage door upgrade completely changes the exterior by matching the color of the siding and making the garage door an architectural feature instead of just a necessary element.

Even with a unique mid-century exterior, an updated garage door really adds to the visual appeal — which in turn impacts resale value with a high ROI! 

Your home doesn’t have to be grandiose to benefit from a garage door curb appeal update. This little detached garage had seen better days, but a fresh coat of paint and a pergola-style awning combined with a beautiful new garage door made this exterior shine again! 

As part of an exterior update, upgrading the garage door really can’t be skipped for maximum effect — the new fence and landscaping here are beautiful, but the new garage door enhances the updates and really makes the home a head-turning property. 

So, when you’re looking at curb appeal updates to add value to your home, take a good look at your garage door, and be sure to check out Clopay to find out the best options for updating the curb appeal of your home while adding resale value.