How to increase home resale value in Tampa Bay

Before you tackle that home renovation you've been dreaming or dreading, think about how it could affect your home's resale value.

Why it matters: Tampa Bay sellers need to rake in all the cash they can if they're leaving record-low mortgage rates.

By the numbers: Eight of the top 10 projects that command the highest return on investments in the U.S. are exterior changes, from fixing the garage to replacing windows, according to data home project review website Angi shared with Axios.

• In the Tampa region, replacing a garage door or a front door — two of the cheaper projects — cost around $1,200, on average.
• A minor kitchen remodel will set back Tampa homeowners $21,175, on average.

Zoom in: Plant City homeowner Chris Carter recently turned her backyard into a verdant retreat.

• She and her husband added a pergola and fresh landscaping to their patio.
• A friend built the pergola and someone installed pavers, but the rest of the three-month project was DIY, she says.
• In total, it cost the Carters $3,000.

The big picture: The type of project you should prioritize depends on how long you'll be in the house, says Angie Hicks, chief customer officer of Angi.

• If you plan to stay at least five years, go ahead and spring for your dream kitchen.
• If you're selling in the next year, it might be time to roll your sleeves up and tackle less sexy projects (think: finally fixing that leaky faucet).

Reality check: Higher interest rates make tapping into home equity more expensive, Axios' Emily Peck reports.

Be smart: You shouldn't expect to earn every penny back on things like a new roof or A/C unit — today's buyers expect the basics to work, Hicks says.

Here are Hicks' other top tips for getting the highest ROI.

🏡 Consider your neighborhood. If every house has 2.5 bathrooms, you might not need to convert that half to a full.

🌷 Invest in curb appeal. Replace your garage door, paint your front door, spruce up your landscaping.

🏠 Neutralize. If you're selling soon, it's not the time for a funky accent wall, it's time for fresh, neutral paint.