About Return on Reno
Return on Reno is a free tool that answers a question most renovation advice skips: not just what will this cost? but how much of that cost do I get back? We built it because almost every other calculator stops at the price tag, leaving homeowners to guess at the part that actually matters — the return.
Return on Reno is an independent site operated from New Zealand, founded and maintained by Darren Newland. It isn't affiliated with any contractor, lender or real-estate company. You can reach us any time at hello@returnonreno.com.
Who's behind Return on Reno
Darren Newland — Founder
Darren has spent over 20 years working in construction-product companies, and has personally planned and completed more than 15 renovations of his own over the past 30 years. Return on Reno grew out of that hands-on experience — the gap between what a project is quoted at and what it actually returns at resale. He oversees the cost and ROI methodology and reviews the guides and project pages published on the site.
What we do
Our calculator estimates the cost of common home improvement projects and pairs each one with a realistic resale-value figure: estimated cost, value added at resale, percentage of cost recouped (ROI), and net cost after resale — in seconds, no sign-up. We also publish guides like which home improvements add the most value.
Where our numbers come from
Cost and ROI figures are built from published national “Cost vs. Value” remodeling averages and adjusted for finish level, scope, currency and region. They are planning benchmarks, not appraisals or quotes, and lean toward US, UK, Canadian and Australian mid-markets. See our full methodology.
How the methodology works in practice
Every project in the calculator starts with a base cost drawn from national midrange data. We then apply three layers of adjustment:
- Finish level. Budget-grade materials and fixtures reduce the base cost; upscale finishes increase it. Each level also shifts the expected resale recoup — luxury finishes typically recover a smaller share of their cost because they appeal to a narrower buyer pool.
- Project scope. A minor kitchen remodel and a gut-to-the-studs kitchen remodel are different projects with different economics. We model scope as a distinct input rather than a simple multiplier.
- Region. Labour and material costs vary significantly between metro areas. Our regional adjustments reflect published cost-index differences so that a kitchen remodel estimate in San Francisco is not the same figure you see for a kitchen remodel in Omaha.
The resale-value side follows the same structure. National cost-recouped percentages are adjusted for finish level and scope, and the final output pairs cost and value in four clear numbers: estimated cost, value added at resale, percentage recouped, and net cost after resale.
Who uses Return on Reno
The site serves three main audiences, each with a different reason to care about renovation ROI:
- Homeowners planning a renovation. You want to know whether a $40,000 kitchen remodel is money well spent before you sign a contract. The calculator gives you a planning estimate in seconds, and the budget worksheet helps you track quotes and manage spend once you commit.
- Real-estate investors and flippers. Margin matters more than aesthetics. Investors use the house-flip calculator and the project-by-project ROI data to decide which upgrades protect their margin and which ones eat into it.
- Agents advising clients. Listing agents regularly advise sellers on pre-sale improvements. The calculator provides a quick, data-backed reference for conversations about which projects are worth doing and which are likely to over-capitalise the property.
Our principles
- Free and accessible. The core calculator is always free, no account required.
- Honest about limits. Estimates are estimates — we say where they're weakest and when to get a local professional involved.
- Independent. Cost and ROI figures aren't influenced by advertisers or affiliate partners. See our affiliate disclosure.
Editorial standards
Return on Reno publishes renovation cost and ROI estimates using publicly available remodeling cost benchmarks, regional cost assumptions and internal modelling. Every guide and cost page is reviewed for clarity, usefulness and responsible disclaimers before publication, and carries a “last reviewed” date. Figures are planning estimates only and should be checked against local contractor quotes and local property advice. If you spot a figure that looks wrong for your market, tell us — we correct errors quickly.
Corrections policy
We aim to be accurate and to fix mistakes openly. If you find an error — a cost that's wrong for your market, a broken figure, or an outdated claim — email hello@returnonreno.com or use our contact page. We review every report, correct confirmed errors promptly, and update the “last reviewed” date on any page we change so you can see it's current.
How we keep it current
We review the cost and ROI benchmarks on a rolling basis and refresh them at least annually against the latest published “Cost vs. Value” remodeling data, re-dating each page as it's reviewed. Guides are updated when the underlying data or best practice changes.
A note on advice
Everything here is general information to help you plan. It is not financial, legal, tax, or professional real-estate advice. Before spending money, get written quotes from licensed local contractors.
Questions or corrections welcome — email hello@returnonreno.com or use our contact page.
Last reviewed: 27 July 2026 · Return on Reno