FrontDoor.com

Does everyone have laminate kitchen countertops? Splurge on granite and you'll be the envy of your friends, but you won't get your money back at resale. Is your home in a high-end neighborhood? Put in laminate countertops and your house will sell for less than full value, or worse yet, linger on the market for months.

Never be the last homeowner on the block to remodel. Homebuyers will pass up your property in favor of the one down the street where everything is already updated. Your home will sell slowly and for less money.

Before you pick up a hammer, visit real estate open houses and new home communities. Ask the builder to show you a spec home (that's an already built home without the model home's decorative features and upgrades).

"The three main things in real estate are location, location and location," says Nancy Jones, a Realtor with Hunt ERA Real Estate, Williamsville, N.Y. "Some homes will sell no matter what they look like depending on the location and, of course, the right price. The main things to keep in mind when remodeling are: neutral, clean, and classic. That will always recoup your money."

To get the biggest bang for your remodeling buck, try one of these four projects:

• Midrange Bathroom Remodel
• Siding Replacement
• Minor Kitchen Remodel
• Attic Bedroom