There are a lot of obvious signs for taking on a home remodeling project: waiting in line for the shower, storing junk in the garage when you're out of cabinet space, or parking in the lawn. Not only will updated space make your house more comfortable, but it could very well pay off at a later time in resale value.
In order to find out if your project will add in resale value, take stock of other houses in the neighborhood. If several have been upgraded in the past few years, check the methods of choice. If most of the other houses have furnished basements or added bathrooms, these would be projects to consider.
Naturally, you won't want to take on a project just for the resale, especially if you want to stay there for a while. Remodeling is chiefly done to add to your quality of life. In this regard, choose an improvement that makes sense for your situation.