Posted by Luke Bouman on Thursday, September 3rd, 2026 9:00am.
By Luke Bouman | Luke Bouman Real Estate Team | September 2026
Not all home improvements are created equal. Some return most of what you spend. Others return very little. If you are planning to sell, or just want to invest wisely in your home, here is what actually moves value in West Michigan.
Kitchens and bathrooms remain the highest-impact interior updates, since buyers weigh them heavily. But the smartest money is often less glamorous: a new roof, updated mechanicals, and windows do not excite buyers, yet their absence actively kills deals and drives price reductions after inspection. Curb appeal and fresh paint deliver outsized return for modest cost. And on waterfront, anything that protects and showcases the water relationship, a sound permitted dock, a maintained seawall, clear sightlines, matters more than interior finishes.
Highly personalized renovations rarely return their cost, because the next buyer may not share your taste. Over-improving beyond your neighborhood is a common mistake: a home renovated far above the surrounding market rarely recovers the difference, since comparable sales anchor value. Pools are a mixed bag in Michigan given the short season. And elaborate landscaping seldom returns what it costs.
The single most expensive mistake is letting maintenance slide. Deferred maintenance compounds, shows up in inspection, and gets negotiated against you at a multiple of what the repair would have cost. Staying current on the boring items is the best value protection there is.
Talk to an agent before spending money on improvements aimed at resale. Sometimes the renovation you are considering will not return its cost, and the money is better spent on prep, staging, and accurate pricing. The Luke Bouman Team is the Lakeshore's most reviewed real estate team, with 450+ five-star Google reviews and over 1,000 five-star reviews across all major platforms. Call (616) 344-9923.
Related: What Is My Home Worth | Staging Your Home | Buying a Fixer-Upper