Minneapolis remodeler Marty Schirber observes that potential home buyers often like some feature of a house simply because it's something they couldn't imagine building for themselves. One such example is a master suite, which Schirber calls "sanity space."
"It's off limits to the rest of the house," Schirber says. "Most people don't imagine themselves deserving something like that, but if it comes with the house, well, they'll go for it."
Our upscale master suite project costs almost twice as much as the mid-range project: $131,471 vs. $69,173. Real estate agents and appraisers estimate they bring back a comparable return: 77% and 75% respectively.
Project description
Mid-range: On a house with two or three bedrooms, add a 24-by-16-foot master bedroom suite over a crawl space. Include walk-in closet/dressing area, whirlpool tub in ceramic tile platform, separate 3-by-4-foot ceramic tile shower, and double-bowl vanity with solid surface countertop. Bedroom floor is carpet; bath floor is ceramic tile. Painted walls, ceiling, and trim. General and spot lighting, exhaust fan.
| Mid-range |
| Market | Job Cost | Resale Value | Cost Recouped |
| National Average | $69,173 | $51,979 | 75% |
| Atlanta | 62,650 | 57,098 | 91 |
| Boston | 78,209 | 71,428 | 91 |
| Buffalo, N.Y. | 68,169 | 40,520 | 59 |
| Chicago | 82,241 | 67,988 | 83 |
| Cincinnati | 68,462 | 46,577 | 68 |
| Cleveland | 73,526 | 44,691 | 61 |
| Columbus, Ohio | 66,821 | 26,773 | 40 |
| Dallas | 60,556 | 36,250 | 60 |
| Denver | 64,404 | 39,783 | 62 |
| Detroit | 73,015 | 46,435 | 64 |
| Houston | 63,043 | 39,000 | 62 |
| Indianapolis | 66,819 | 39,000 | 58 |
| Kansas City | 67,537 | 39,588 | 59 |
| Los Angeles metro | 76,364 | 85,163 | 112 |
| Los Angeles | 77,403 | 110,877 | 143 |
| Orange Cty, Calif. | 75,324 | 59,448 | 79 |
| Miami | 57,654 | 50,000 | 87 |
| Milwaukee | 74,154 | 65,154 | 88 |
| Minneapolis | 79,133 | 61,967 | 78 |
| New Orleans | 58,112 | 42,975 | 74 |
| New York metro | 75,014 | 68,919 | 92 |
| Passaic, N.J. | 76,502 | 53,750 | 70 |
| Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y. | 78,674 | 66,535 | 85 |
| Fairfield-New Haven, Conn. | 69,865 | 86,473 | 124 |
| Norfolk, Va. | 52,675 | 31,400 | 60 |
| Orlando, Fla. | 73,635 | 37,634 | 51 |
| Philadelphia | 72,960 | 61,592 | 84 |
| Phoenix | 63,533 | 31,667 | 50 |
| Pittsburgh | 69,257 | 36,750 | 53 |
| Portland, Ore. | 71,503 | 44,600 | 62 |
| Providence, R.I. | 69,722 | 40,000 | 57 |
| Sacramento, Calif. | 75,710 | 51,000 | 67 |
| Salt Lake City | 58,948 | 32,540 | 55 |
| St. Louis | 74,495 | 42,500 | 57 |
| San Antonio | 58,927 | 43,500 | 74 |
| San Diego | 73,769 | 58,750 | 80 |
| San Francisco metro | 84,366 | 93,209 | 110 |
| San Francisco | 84,366 | 105,000 | 124 |
| Oakland, Calif. | 84,366 | 81,417 | 97 |
| Seattle | 75,405 | 59,311 | 79 |
| Tampa, Fla. | 55,775 | 32,500 | 58 |
| Washington metro | 59,587 | 49,559 | 83 |
| Washington, D.C. | 64,467 | 80,000 | 124 |
| Baltimore | 60,471 | 39,427 | 65 |
| Richmond, Va. | 53,824 | 29,250 | 54 |
Upscale: Add a spacious sleeping area with lounging/sitting room adjacent to large master bath. Include custom bookcases, woodworking details, and built-in storage; high-end gas fireplace with stone hearth and custom mantle; and large walk-in closet/dressing area with natural light, mirrors, and linen storage. The sound-proofed suite, with in-floor heating, includes a hospitality center with sink, refrigerator, and custom cabinetry.
| Upscale |
| Market | Job Cost | Resale Value | Cost Recouped |
| National Average | $131,471 | $100,926 | 77% |
| Atlanta | 124,835 | 113,333 | 91 |
| Boston | 142,506 | 139,971 | 98 |
| Buffalo, N.Y. | 130,769 | 85,500 | 65 |
| Chicago | 146,054 | 121,519 | 83 |
| Cincinnati | 131,096 | 103,333 | 79 |
| Cleveland | 136,529 | 82,066 | 60 |
| Columbus, Ohio | 129,299 | 59,883 | 46 |
| Dallas | 122,633 | 70,000 | 57 |
| Denver | 126,683 | 78,333 | 62 |
| Detroit | 136,179 | 93,695 | 69 |
| Houston | 125,219 | 72,000 | 57 |
| Indianapolis | 129,346 | 73,000 | 56 |
| Kansas City | 129,994 | 74,238 | 57 |
| Los Angeles metro | 138,714 | 164,483 | 119 |
| Los Angeles | 140,205 | 223,904 | 160 |
| Orange Cty, Calif. | 137,222 | 105,061 | 77 |
| Miami | 119,635 | 93,750 | 78 |
| Milwaukee | 137,254 | 111,485 | 81 |
| Minneapolis | 144,976 | 116,217 | 80 |
| New Orleans | 119,937 | 83,740 | 70 |
| New York metro | 138,190 | 129,451 | 94 |
| Passaic, N.J. | 139,857 | 95,000 | 68 |
| Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y. | 141,939 | 131,388 | 93 |
| Fairfield-New Haven, Conn. | 132,773 | 161,964 | 122 |
| Norfolk, Va. | 114,075 | 68,000 | 60 |
| Orlando, Fla. | 121,737 | 69,372 | 57 |
| Philadelphia | 138,838 | 114,768 | 83 |
| Phoenix | 120,597 | 72,500 | 60 |
| Pittsburgh | 131,900 | 73,750 | 56 |
| Portland, Ore. | 134,003 | 81,667 | 61 |
| Providence, R.I. | 132,927 | 80,400 | 60 |
| Sacramento, Calif. | 138,477 | 94,000 | 68 |
| Salt Lake City | 120,911 | 87,040 | 72 |
| St. Louis | 137,336 | 83,333 | 61 |
| San Antonio | 120,899 | 104,127 | 86 |
| San Diego | 136,685 | 120,000 | 88 |
| San Francisco metro | 147,727 | 152,875 | 103 |
| San Francisco | 147,727 | 172,000 | 116 |
| Oakland, Calif. | 147,727 | 133,750 | 91 |
| Seattle | 138,992 | 115,629 | 83 |
| Tampa, Fla. | 117,494 | 63,750 | 54 |
| Washington metro | 121,677 | 104,829 | 86 |
| Washington, D.C. | 127,064 | 158,333 | 125 |
| Baltimore | 122,634 | 86,904 | 71 |
| Richmond, Va. | 115,334 | 69,250 | 60 |