If you’re looking to do some home improvement projects this year, sprucing up the outside of your home is going to give you the biggest bang for your buck, according to the 2014 Remodeling Cost vs. Value report released this month.

The report, an annual collaboration between Remodeling magazine and REALTOR® Magazine, compares the average cost for 35 popular remodeling projects with the value those projects retain at resale in 101 U.S. cities.

Eight of the top 10 most cost-effective projects nationally, in terms of value recouped, are exterior projects.

“With many factors to consider such as cost and time, deciding what remodeling projects to undertake can be a difficult decision for homeowners,” said National Association of REALTORS® President Steve Brown, co-owner of Irongate, Inc., REALTORS® in Dayton, Ohio. “REALTORS® know what home features are important to buyers in their area, but a home’s curb appeal is always critical since it’s the first impression for potential buyers.”

A steel entry door replacement was deemed the project expected to have the biggest return on investment, with an estimated 96.6 percent of costs recouped upon resale. This particular remodel project is consistently the least expensive in the annual Cost vs. Value Report, at around $1,100 on average.