Homeowners who updated their most frequented rooms and those who added on more living space enjoyed the biggest bang for their buck on home improvements, according to Remodeling Online's latest Cost Vs. Value Report.

The annual report is the result of responses from 300 real estate professionals in 60 markets nationwide. Remodeling Online asked the pros what level of return a given remodeling job would provide if the house were sold within one year of the work.

These projects are proven winners, but be in the know before you get started.

Which home improvements give you the most bang for your buck, come selling time? The answer has to do with the term "ROI," or "Return on Investment."

In other words, what you will get out of what you put in. ROI is important because you want to recoup at least the same amount of money you put into your home when you sell it, or as close as possible. But it's not a simple equation to work out how to best maximize your payoff.