Does a kitchen remodel add value to your home?

The short answer, with numbers

Kitchens are one of the projects buyers notice. The report shows that how much you do matters more than whether you do it. These rows come from the South Atlantic region, 2025, Cost vs Value report (Zonda, Remodeling magazine).

South Atlantic region, 2025, Cost vs Value report (Zonda, Remodeling magazine)

Project	Job cost	Recouped at resale
Minor kitchen remodel, midrange	$28,567	109.2%
Major kitchen remodel, midrange	$81,076	50.2%
Major kitchen remodel, upscale	$161,511	35.5%

Recouped means the share of the job cost the report says returns at resale. The report defines what is in each project. We have not copied its scope lists here, so read them on the report's page before you compare your own plans.

What the dollars work out to

This is our arithmetic on the report's figures, rounded. It is not from the report.

• Minor midrange: 109.2 percent of $28,567 is about $31,200. The report puts the gain a little above the cost.
• Major midrange: 50.2 percent of $81,076 is about $40,700, so about $40,400 is not recouped.
• Major upscale: 35.5 percent of $161,511 is about $57,300, so about $104,200 is not recouped.

What this means for your plan

If resale is your main reason, the minor remodel is the strongest row. If your kitchen layout works and the cabinets and counters are tired, a lighter project matches that row best.

A major remodel makes sense when the kitchen does not work for your family. A bad layout or worn-out storage costs you every day, and a resale percentage does not count that. Our kitchen remodel cost guide covers local price ranges and what moves them.

What the report cannot tell you

The report cannot tell you what your house would sell for. It is a regional estimate. It has no Tampa-only 2025 numbers.

Ask a local real estate agent what buyers on your street expect. Then compare that with what you want to live with.

Ways to keep a kitchen project on budget

• Decide the project size first: minor or major.
• Get a written, itemized estimate so you can see where the money goes. Our guide on how to budget for a remodel walks through it.
• Plan for the unknown. On an older home, a cushion of roughly 10 to 15 percent for what is found behind the walls is sensible.
• Read remodeling cost vs value for the full set of projects before you decide.

Minor or major: how to decide

The report splits kitchens into minor and major jobs. Here is a simple way to think about which one you need.

• Lean minor if the layout works for you, the room has enough storage, and what bothers you is wear and style.
• Lean major if the layout fights you: not enough counter, a work triangle that does not work, or storage that does not fit how you cook.
• Talk first if you are not sure. A visit lets us see what a lighter project could and could not fix.

Write down what bothers you most, in order. That list usually points to the answer.

Questions to ask before you spend

• Will I still own this house in five years?
• What does a local real estate agent say buyers on my street expect?
• What does the estimate include, and what is left out?
• What is my cushion for what is found behind the walls?

How Hildebrand handles kitchen remodels

We price every kitchen after a free in-home visit, with a written estimate and no trip fee. One licensed contractor, Florida Certified Building Contractor license CBC1257253, runs the whole job. Plumbing and electrical are done by licensed trade partners that we manage and coordinate. We pull the required permits and meet Florida Building Code inspections. The price does not change without your written approval.

See kitchen remodels and our process, or call or text (941) 284-2218.

Questions homeowners ask