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Exterior projects have the clearer track record for helping a home sell. Zillow’s summary of the 2025 Cost vs. Value report, from Journal of Light Construction, gives several exterior jobs reported cost recovery near or above 100%, meaning the estimated resale-value effect is comparable to or larger than the project’s cost. Those are national averages, not forecasts for your house.
The evidence does not support the broader claim that smart-home upgrades never help a sale. No source compares smart-home projects and exterior work on a common basis, so the honest conclusion is narrower: exterior work has the stronger published figures, and smart-home features have no reliable sale-price figure behind them either way.
What the available evidence does and does not show
Zillow’s 2025 feature analysis drew on sale records and listing data for more than 2 million homes listed for sale in 2024. It found associations between home features and prices. Zillow states plainly that the analysis did not isolate the return from installing individual features solely for resale. In other words, it can tell you that certain features tend to appear in homes that sell for more, but it cannot tell you what a smart thermostat or a video doorbell added to a particular sale.
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That is why this article separates two kinds of evidence. The first is cost-recovery estimates for specific projects, which come from a construction cost study. The second is buyer-behavior findings, such as a color preference study or seller surveys, which describe what happens in the market without measuring what a single improvement is worth.
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Exterior projects with the highest reported cost recovery
The figures below are the 2025 national estimates from the Journal of Light Construction Cost vs. Value Report, as summarized by Zillow. They describe a modeled project in a national average, so the percentage is the most useful number for comparing categories within the same report.
| Exterior project | Reported cost recovery (2025 national estimate) |
|---|---|
| Garage door replacement | 349.3% |
| Steel entry-door replacement | 216% |
| Manufactured stone veneer | 208% |
| Fiber-cement siding replacement | 114% |
| Vinyl siding replacement | 97% |
| Fiberglass grand entrance | 85% |
Garage and entry doors
Garage and entry doors post the strongest figures in the report. A garage door replacement is the highest-reported category at 349.3%, and steel entry-door replacement follows at 216%. Both are visible from the street and appear in the first listing photo, which helps explain their standing in buyer-facing summaries. They are also projects with significant cost and installation scope, so a figure this high should be checked against a local quote, not assumed.
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Siding and stone veneer
Manufactured stone veneer (208%) and fiber-cement siding (114%) are the next strongest in the list. Vinyl siding replacement sits at 97%, and fiberglass grand entrances at 85%. The gap between fiber-cement and vinyl matters if you are choosing materials: the report puts the higher-cost material with a noticeably higher recovery figure, but that comparison reflects one national model and not what a particular neighborhood’s buyers will pay for.
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Not every helpful exterior change requires a major contract. Zillow’s exterior guidance focuses on maintenance and first impressions, and the cost and disruption are usually far lower than replacing a door or siding.
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Front door color
Zillow reports a 2022 study in which buyers preferred black front doors to gray ones, with an estimated $6,450 higher offer associated with black doors. That figure comes from a study of buyer preference, not a promise that painting your door black will add that amount to your sale. Results depend on the house style, the surrounding exterior colors, and local tastes.
Painting or staining an intact door
If the door is sound, painting or staining can refresh the entry without replacing it. This is the lower-scope route, and it only makes sense when the door’s material and surface are in good shape. Paint will not hide rot, warping, or a failing lock, and a buyer who notices those problems will discount the house regardless of the color.
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Cleaning exterior surfaces and walkways
Zillow recommends cleaning exterior surfaces and walkways and paying attention to how the exterior looks in the listing photo. Cleaning costs little and is usually the first step a seller can take. It cannot repair a worn exterior, but it removes the visual signals of neglect that shape a buyer’s first impression.
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Seller behavior as context
Zillow’s guide cites its 2024 Consumer Housing Trends Report, which found that 72% of sellers completed at least one improvement project before selling. That shows how common pre-sale work is. It does not show that those projects raised sale prices, because sellers who improve a home may differ in other ways from those who do not.
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Where smart-home upgrades fit
The sources do not measure smart-home features against exterior projects, so they cannot tell you whether a smart lock or thermostat will help or hurt a sale. The headline’s claim that these upgrades won’t sell a house is stronger than the evidence allows. What the evidence does support is narrower: if you already have smart-home devices, the feature analysis suggests buyers may encounter them in listings, but it does not show that they increase the price.
Before deciding whether to spend money on smart-home work ahead of a sale, check three things. First, whether the devices are reliable and transferable; a broken or account-locked device can be a negative. Second, whether local agents report buyers asking about these features. Third, whether the same money would produce more visible improvement elsewhere, such as the exterior work described above.
How to choose among exterior projects before a sale
- Start with condition. Repair anything that is damaged or not working, such as a warped door, failing siding, or a garage door that does not operate smoothly. Cosmetic upgrades do not offset visible defects.
- Get a local estimate. The 2025 cost-recovery figures reflect national modeled projects. Your cost, scope, and disruption may differ substantially.
- Compare only within the same report year. Zillow’s exterior article discusses earlier 2024 Cost vs. Value figures, which are different. Do not combine 2024 and 2025 numbers in one ranking.
- Check local listings. Look at recent sales of similar homes in your area and note which exterior features appear in their photos and descriptions.
- Ask your listing agent which exterior details buyers in your price range tend to comment on, and whether any project would change how quickly the home sells.
Timing and currency of the figures
The most recent figures in these sources are the 2025 Cost vs. Value estimates, and the feature analysis reflects 2024 listings. Cost-recovery estimates change as material and labor costs change, so a figure from 2025 may not match current quotes. Before quoting any of these numbers, check whether the Journal of Light Construction has published a newer edition of its Cost vs. Value report and whether Zillow’s guide has been updated.
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Exterior projects have the stronger published record for resale value. Garage and entry doors, stone veneer, and siding lead the 2025 national estimates, while painting a sound door and cleaning exterior surfaces offer lower-cost ways to improve the first impression. None of these figures is a guaranteed return. Smart-home upgrades lack a comparable published measurement, so they should be judged on reliability and local buyer demand rather than on the headline’s claim either way.
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