I am looking for some recent data/research/ statistics on cost estimates to
do the top 20 home improvements,( and of course a ranked list of the
top 20) as well as the eventual estimated return on investment when
the homeowner sells the property. By "Home Improvement", I mean things like
adding on a deck, upgrading a kitchen, replacing a bathroom, adding
wood flooring, etc.

I have located a ranked list of the top 22 remodeling projects in
terms of estimated return on investment.  The list includes estimated
job cost as well.  The list has been compiled for a number of years,
so you can see how the return on investment for the various projects
has changed over the last few years.  It is available at:  "Cost vs.
Value Report" by Sal Alfano, REMODELING Magazine (November 1, 2005)
http://www.remodeling.hw.net/content/CvsV/CostvsValue.asp?articleID=211765&sectionID=173

I have not been able to locate a ranked list in terms of popularity,
but I have located some general information to assist you.

A lot of data on Homeowner Improvement Expenditures, including the
number of homeowners reporting specific projects, which could be used
to infer popularity, can be found in Table A-1 of the following
source:  "R05-1: The Changing Structure of the Home Remodeling
Industry" Joint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard University (2005)
http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/publications/remodeling/remodeling2005_appendix.pdf.
 Access to the full report is available via
http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/publications/remodeling/remodeling2005.html.

"Question: WHAT ARE THE MOST POPULAR REMODELING PROJECTS? 

Answer: Kitchens and baths are number one and two. Those are the rooms
most frequently used and they receive the most scrutiny from potential
buyers. They are also the quickest to become obsolete.

In a distant third place are decks and patios, followed by bathroom
additions (as opposed to bathroom remodels) and finally, family room
and living room additions."

"Frequently Asked Questions" Remodelers Council of Michigan
http://www.biaremodelor.org/faqs.htm

"Q: What is the most popular home remodel project in the Sacramento area?

A: Wall removal in conjunction with a kitchen remodel, such as opening
up a kitchen to other rooms in the house to create a great room. Also
removing walls to create a view to a back yard."

"Home remodeling: Wall bored? Tear it down" by Gwen Schoen, Sacramento
Bee (February 25, 2006)
http://www.sacbee.com/content/lifestyle/guides/home_garden/home_improvement_decorating/story/14221524p-15047224c.html

That doesn't mean home improvement won't continue to be hot,
especially for kitchens and baths--two of the most popular remodeling
projects. In 2004 Americans spent more than $10.5 billion remodeling
kitchens and $7.2 billion revamping bathrooms, according to the U.S.
Census Bureau. But these rooms can also be the priciest and trickiest
to redo."

"Home remodeling: Dos and don'ts" ConsumerReports (February 2006)
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home-garden/home-improvement/home-remodeling-dos-and-donts-206.htm

Another report on ROI for a variety of home improvement projects is
found in Reader's Digest Canada:

"Home Improvements That Pay" by Stuart Foxman, Reader's Digest Canada
(2002) http://www.readersdigest.ca/mag/2002/08/reno.html

Sincerely,

Wonko

Search terms:  most popular remodeling projects; return on home improvements