2002 Cost vs. Value Report
If the exterior of a home is in bad condition, that could throw a wrench into the sales process, says Columbus, Ohio, real estate agent and appraiser Mark Abbott. "If it's in good shape, it's on to the next thing." That's where siding comes in.
Depending on the product and the color, new siding can change "the whole shell, the character of the house, as defined by the outside look," says San Antonio real estate agent Pat Clay. New vinyl siding also signals a low maintenance future, because no painting will be required. A maintenance-free exterior is a big plus for homeowners in today's market, Clay says. The vinyl siding change-out in our project description costs $7,146 and brings back $5,652 upon resale, or 79% of cost recouped.
Project description
Replace 1,250 square feet of existing siding with new vinyl siding, including all trim.
| Market | Job Cost | Resale Value | Cost Recouped |
| National Average | $7,146 | $5,652 | 79% |
| Atlanta | 6,374 | 4,009 | 63 |
| Boston | 8,708 | 3,786 | 43 |
| Buffalo, N.Y. | 6,652 | 5,300 | 80 |
| Chicago | 8,141 | 8,404 | 103 |
| Cincinnati | 6,746 | 4,250 | 63 |
| Cleveland | 7,111 | 5,680 | 80 |
| Columbus, Ohio | 6,452 | 4,119 | 64 |
| Dallas | 5,983 | 7,250 | 121 |
| Denver | 6,053 | 3,283 | 54 |
| Detroit | 7,073 | 3,931 | 56 |
| Houston | 6,728 | 3,440 | 51 |
| Indianapolis | 6,582 | 3,916 | 60 |
| Kansas City | 7,113 | 3,625 | 51 |
| Los Angeles metro | 8,325 | 10,709 | 129 |
| Los Angeles | 8,056 | 13,542 | 168 |
| Orange Cty, Calif. | 8,593 | 7,875 | 92 |
| Miami | 5,787 | 4,125 | 71 |
| Milwaukee | 7,583 | 5,414 | 71 |
| Minneapolis | 8,193 | 7,033 | 86 |
| New Orleans | 5,597 | 5,044 | 90 |
| New York metro | 7,459 | 6,329 | 85 |
| Passaic, N.J. | 7,396 | 7,000 | 95 |
| Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y. | 8,166 | 6,033 | 74 |
| Fairfield-New Haven, Conn. | 6,814 | 5,954 | 87 |
| Norfolk, Va. | 5,256 | 5,000 | 95 |
| Orlando, Fla. | 6,256 | 3,014 | 48 |
| Philadelphia | 7,486 | 6,498 | 87 |
| Phoenix | 7,105 | 3,250 | 46 |
| Pittsburgh | 7,185 | 4,875 | 68 |
| Portland, Ore. | 7,683 | 2,417 | 31 |
| Providence, R.I. | 7,248 | 3,600 | 50 |
| Sacramento, Calif. | 8,245 | 5,400 | 65 |
| Salt Lake City | 7,850 | 6,300 | 80 |
| St. Louis | 7,737 | 6,250 | 81 |
| San Antonio | 5,627 | 2,309 | 41 |
| San Diego | 8,281 | 6,000 | 72 |
| San Francisco metro | 9,073 | 10,146 | 112 |
| San Francisco | 9,073 | 7,700 | 85 |
| Oakland, Calif. | 9,073 | 12,592 | 139 |
| Seattle | 8,052 | 5,438 | 68 |
| Tampa, Fla. | 7,015 | 13,629 | 194 |
| Washington metro | 5,967 | 4,816 | 81 |
| Washington, D.C. | 6,238 | 6,000 | 96 |
| Baltimore | 5,566 | 3,447 | 62 |
| Richmond, Va. | 6,096 | 5,000 | 82 |
