Typical return by U.S. region
| Region (Census division) | States | Typical return |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific | AK, CA, HI, OR, WA | ~172% |
| West South Central | AR, LA, OK, TX | ~165% |
| South Atlantic | DC, DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV | ~163% |
| New England | CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT | ~147% |
| East South Central | AL, KY, MS, TN | ~146% |
| Mountain | AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, UT, WY | ~141% |
| Middle Atlantic | NJ, NY, PA | ~138% |
| East North Central | IL, IN, MI, OH, WI | ~134% |
| West North Central | IA, KS, MN, MO, ND, NE, SD | ~121% |
Return figures are typical resale-return estimates from Roots' home valuation model. Actual results vary by market, home, and workmanship, and shouldn't be relied on for lending, insurance, or tax decisions.
Sources: national baseline for this project calibrated against the National Association of Realtors' 2022 Remodeling Impact Report; regional adjustments derived from division-level averages in the 2024 Cost vs. Value Report.
What “return” actually means
A typical hardwood floor refinishing returning ~147% means a $10,000 project typically adds about $14,700 of resale value.
That makes it unusual: buyers tend to value it at more than it costs, so it can genuinely pay for itself at resale.
Return also fades with age: in Roots' model, work under 2 years old counts in full, then depreciates toward ~20% after 10 years.
Your home's condition compounds this effect. The same home with a strong maintenance record sells closer to asking.
That's why Roots tracks both projects and upkeep in one place.