I was chatting with a friend recently and as usual, the conversation turned to what kind of trends I'm seeing in home renovations.  More and more, I'm finding that instead of selling, homeowners are investing in their homes and are looking at upgrades that will increase the value. 

What's the new best thing? Here's what the experts are saying:

- On average, renovations are getting bigger, and people are tending to want high-end, quality products. A continuous upgrade approach is popular with fewer people waiting several years between projects.

- With children staying home longer and an increased desire to care for the aging parents within our homes, there is a subtle upswing in requests for multi-generational suites. Similarly, wider doorways and entrances, non-skid floors, lever handles and safety rails are more frequently requested.

- Retrofitting to improve air quality and energy efficiency is important, particularly during major renovations.

- If you are seeking the best return for your renovation dollar, your top three renovation choices remain unchanged: kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations and interior painting. According to the Appraisal Institute of Canada's 2004 Home Renovation Survey, these upgrades will net you a return in the range of 70% to 100%of your investment.

Is your home improvement investment worth the effort and expense? I'd be happy to help you understand what your planned home renovation may do to improve your home's resale value in today's market.