Tulsa contractor shares top home improvement projects that add resale value

Homeowners looking to boost their property value ahead of a sale should focus on kitchen and bathroom remodels, according to Tulsa contractor Justin Wenzel, owner of The Wooden Toolbox.

“Kitchens are number one,” Wenzel said. “Kitchen or bathroom, your master bathroom, [will] bring the most value, bang for your buck. Typically about a 75 to 85% return in value....Classic is always best. Natural wood products, everything we do is 100% hardwood.”

Remodel Smart, Avoid Over-Renovation

Wenzel encouraged homeowners to work with both a contractor and a real estate agent before launching into major renovations, like expansions.

“You really need to get a contractor involved and a realtor because you don’t want to over-renovate,” he said. “You can over-renovate in your segment.”

Countertop Tips for Tulsa Kitchens

For those remodeling kitchens, Wenzel says the choice of countertop depends on lifestyle.

“If you’re a big chef, you don’t want to put an extremely hot cast iron right on quartz,” he said. “Quartzite or granite is a lot better in those situations.”

He cautioned against marble in kitchens due to its porous nature and tendency to stain.

One of his favorite surfaces: Cristallo quartz. “It’s a see-through quartz. You can backlight it. In our showroom, we have Cristallo on our front counter.”

Bathroom Upgrades That Add Instant Value

Wenzel also recommends upgrading the shower in a master bathroom, but retaining at least one bathtub for resale appeal.

“The size of the shower really does sell,” he said. “We can resegment the actual size of the bathroom and use the most space possible.”

Hire Professionals for Big Jobs

While DIY projects can be appealing, Wenzel says structural renovations are best left to professionals.

“We have a lot of projects where somebody calls and says, ‘We’ve done this entire demo, and now we don’t know what to do,’” he said. “Is this a load-bearing wall?"

In many of those cases, Wenzel and his team either step in to take over or offer guidance.

“It’s not always about trying to make a million dollars on a job,” he added. “Sometimes it’s about helping people.”