Rather than remodeling your entire kitchen for $25,000-$50,000, re-facing your kitchen cabinets is an easy, cost-effective upgrade that has a powerful impact. Just having your cabinets repainted will cost you $4,000-$6,000, but talented homeowners might undertake the project themselves.

A higher priced alternative at $6,000 to $15,000 is to have your cabinets professionally refurbished giving them a new look. Give them a darker finish or lighten the finish up. Do not forget to upgrade the cabinet hardware as well. Smaller kitchen upgrades recoup about 83 percent of the cost when its time to sell your home.

The Kitchen sink get used all the time. Sinks have progressed in both design and their function. The current trend is for undermounted sinks, which look great and are easier to clean. These sinks create a stunning visual impact when selling your home. Cast-iron and stainless steel sinks cost around $500.00 upwards to $1,000.

If you are replacing your sink, you might as well replace the kitchen faucet with a new sleeker design as well. The high-end luxury faucets can cost upwards of $800.00 to $1,000. But that investment will come back to you when you sell.

Are your kitchen countertops a poster child for a 50's look? Now is the time to make a change. Considering natural stone countertops, such as granite, have ruled the market for some time, but cheaper, man-made materials are available and are as durable as anything currently available.

Newer laminate countertops are much more affordable at $20 to $55 per linear foot and silestone carries a $50-$125 per linear foot price tag. For a classy designer look, take a look at concrete or recycled glass, which might be a dynamic option.

Tubs and Toilets will fit into existing plumbing, and are pretty easy to install if you're handy. Your local home center usually can provide installation for an additional cost. You can hire your own plumber. This one might be better off tackled by a professional.

Toilets cost between $150-$600. Tub prices run between $400-$1,200. A big caveat: uninstalling and removing the old units will cost between $250 and $650. A moderate upgrade like this will on average, recoup almost 80 percent of your investment when you sell your home. In considering a new toilet, shop for green or ecologically friendly ones that will conserve water.

Bathrooms sinks and vanities have become a defacto home fashion statement, with the mounting popularity of lustrous stand-alone bowl sinks and sturdy, undermounted vanities. Replacement units can cost anywhere from $900-$3,000 or more, plus installation, depending on your style preference.

New faucets can range in price from $100.00-$900.00 if you can afford the extra cost, consider going for a nicer, stylish one. When you sell your home, your upscale bathroom remodel should return almost 80 percent of your total investment.

Roofing is laborious and time-intensive, therefore it is not cheap. The typical cost of installing a new roof on a standard mid-sized house is between $10,000-$18,000. Slate and tin roof installation costs a lot more. Most manufactured roofing shingles come with a 20-year warranty, and some better shingles often come with a 30-50 year warranty. Installing a new roof makes a huge difference in the curbside appeal of your home.

Most roofing upgrades will reclaim around 65 percent of the cost when you sell your home.

Most vinyl replacement jobs cost $10,000-$20,000 for a mid-sized to a large home. But vinyl siding usually comes with a 20-year durability guarantee and it's quick and easy to install.

Fiber-cement or EIFS is more expensive option at $13,000-$25,000 for a typical job. This siding option comes in various textures and colors, and has up to a 50 year durability guarantee. By replacing your siding you can expect to recoup up to 90 percent of the upgrade cost.

Not just providing a nice new look, this upgrade also has an added benefit - keeping you warmer: the energy-efficiency of new windows has increased compared to the windows of 15 years ago; new windows are a key selling point. You can expect to recover about 80 percent of your investment. The average cost for window replacement on a typical home: $10,000-$18,000.

One note: Depending on your choice, you might have to replace the window frame(s) as well as the trim, and that will cost you more, but is a more complete and the right way to go if you have to.

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