Updated kitchens still bring a significant payoff, especially at resale time: A minor kitchen remodel adds an average of 82.7 percent of the project’s cost back to the home’s value. Kitchens are important, because would-be buyers often overestimate how much they cost to update. The average cost of a minor kitchen remodel – new cabinet doors, appliances, countertops, sink, faucet, paint and hardware – was $18,856 nationwide, according to the report.