When it comes to adding value to your home, a home office ranks last among the 35 mid-range projects analyzed in Remodeling magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value Report. Converting a 12-by-12-foot bedroom into an office costs a national average of $27,292 and recoups about $11,900 at resale, for a 43.6% return on investment, according to the 2013 report. Construction costs include custom cabinetry and work surface, wall-mounted storage, a wiring upgrade, and new floor and wall finishes. 

Regionally, returns varied only slightly, with the highest rate of return, 50.7%, in the far West, and the lowest, 36.8%, in the upper Midwest.

National average cost to convert an existing 12 x 12 room into a home office:

Job cost: $27,292
Resale value: $11,911
Cost recoup: 43.6%

Regional info:

New England

Middle Atlantic

South Atlantic

East South Central

West South Central

East North Central

West North Central

Mountain

Pacific