Austin's real estate market is competitive and increasingly detail-conscious. Buyers who find a well-located split level with a modernized exterior are willing to pay a premium — but only when the updates signal quality execution, not just fresh paint over old problems.
Austin homeowners who want an ROI-focused approach to exterior renovation have found clear guidance from NuHorizon Remodeling's certified full home renovation team. The team prioritizes upgrades by their Austin-specific impact before any project begins.
Highest ROI: Fiber Cement Siding in a Contemporary Palette
Why Siding Replacement Tops the Return Chart
Siding replacement delivers the broadest visual transformation per dollar spent on a 70s split level exterior. The before and after gap between original honey wood or dated vinyl and new fiber cement board-and-batten is immediately legible to buyers, agents, and appraisers. The material is also one of Austin's most practical choices — fiber cement resists moisture, UV fading, wood-boring insects, and the thermal cycling Austin experiences between summer peaks and occasional winter freezes.
In Austin, fiber cement siding installation on a standard two-car-garage split level typically costs $18,000 to $35,000 fully installed and painted. Appraised value improvement consistently runs 1.0 to 1.4 times that cost in Austin's current market — making it the strongest single exterior investment available for this home type.
Color Selection Is Part of the ROI Equation
The right color palette matters as much as the material. Warm white with dark trim, two-tone combinations using soft sage and white, or all-charcoal with warm wood accents are the palettes producing the strongest buyer responses in Austin's 2026 market. An outdated earth tone — brown, olive, or rust — on new fiber cement still reads as dated.
Strong ROI: Window Replacement and Entry Upgrade
Replacing original aluminum single-pane windows with double-pane units in contemporary frames returns 75% to 90% of cost in most Austin markets — and produces an energy performance improvement that buyers in Austin explicitly value. A combined window and entry upgrade is the second-highest return exterior investment for split level homes in this market.
For context on how exterior renovation fits within a broader whole-home value strategy, the NuHorizon article on the highest ROI home remodeling ideas provides a ranked analysis of renovation investments across every project category — interior and exterior — in Austin's current market.
Moderate ROI: Roof Replacement
A new roof is required when the existing one is at or past its service life. When needed, a quality architectural shingle roof returns 65% to 75% of its cost in Austin's appraisal process and removes a significant buyer negotiating point. Metal roofing — standing seam in charcoal — delivers a stronger visual return but at a higher material cost that does not always translate proportionally to appraisal value in mid-range Austin neighborhoods.
If the roof has 5 or more years of useful life remaining, it is usually better to invest those dollars in siding, windows, and entry first — then address the roof when it genuinely needs replacement.
Lower ROI: Garage Door Replacement
A new garage door on a 70s split level typically returns 85% to 95% of its cost — making it one of the highest-return individual projects per dollar. But because the garage door is a relatively small component of the overall exterior investment, its standalone impact is limited. It works best as a finishing element of a broader exterior remodel rather than as a standalone upgrade.
What Garage Door Profile Works for a Split Level
Carriage-style doors with rectangular windows in a dark finish — black or dark espresso — work well against lighter siding. Full-panel steel doors in a wood-tone finish read as warm and residential. Avoid white garage doors against white siding — the lack of contrast flattens the facade.
Austin homeowners who want to see verified results from exterior transformations can review completed projects and client feedback on the NuHorizon Remodeling Google Business profile — 28 five-star reviews from real Austin homeowners who have gone through exactly this process.
What About Landscape and Hardscape ROI?
A professional landscape refresh — native plantings, defined pathway, exterior lighting — typically returns 100% to 150% of its cost in perceived value according to the National Association of Landscape Professionals' annual data. It is also the most forgiving category: smaller investments produce visible results because a well-framed, well-lit facade reads significantly better than the same facade with overgrown shrubs in front of it.
How to Prioritize When Your Budget Is Limited
If you cannot invest in all categories at once: siding first, then windows and entry, then roof when needed, then garage door, then landscape. This sequence maximizes visual impact per dollar at every stage and allows a phased approach that does not require waiting until the full budget is available.
Ready to Plan Your Split Level Exterior ROI Strategy?
Get a free, on-site evaluation of your 70s split level's current exterior condition and a clear recommendation on which upgrades will deliver the strongest return in Austin's market. Contact NuHorizon Remodeling today.
The Remodeling Magazine Cost vs. Value annual report publishes return-on-investment data for exterior renovation categories across US markets — the authoritative industry benchmark for comparing exterior upgrade returns by project type and region.