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7 Ways to Increase the Appraisal Value of Your Home

Your house is an asset. And like any asset, it has value. If you’re planning to sell your house in the future, then you might want to know what adds value to a home appraisal. 

 

What Adds Value to a Home Appraisal? 7 Ideas to Try

 The higher the appraisal, the higher the perceived market value of your property. The thing is, adding value to your property is not as easy as upgrading and renovating common areas or increasing the footage. Some renovations don’t even add value to the property. 

So what adds value to your home appraisal? Here are some tips from home appraisers to take into account. 

Boost the curb appeal

First impressions last. This is why you dress your best for a job interview or when going on a date. The same goes for your house – the exterior is the first thing people see. Thus, the first and most obvious thing you can do to improve its value is to improve its curb appeal. 

Walk around the outside of your house, look around and check the details from your mailbox to the front door. Check the landscaping, grass, lighting fixtures, walkways, front entry, and the exterior paint of the house. Are the shrubs trimmed? You can also spruce up the front porch and declutter the garage. You may also need to power wash or repaint the exterior. Plant a tree and add a few flower boxes. Upgrade your mailbox. These are the first things potential buyers and appraisers will see. 

Better yet, stand across the street and look at your house from afar. Is it well-kept? It’s common sense, a well-maintained property gets appraised higher. 

curb appeal adds value to home appraisal

Check the exterior

Similar to the curb appeal, the exterior of the house has an important role in making a good first impression. Scratched sidings, missing shingles, or any noticeable damage to the exterior will affect an appraiser’s impression of the property. If you see any signs of wear and tear and damages on any exterior part of the house, fix them as soon as possible. You can hire a professional to fix siding or roofing issues. 

Create an inviting atmosphere

Remember that home appraisers are not potential buyers. They will not picture themselves living in your place. This is how they appraise properties objectively – they don’t approach homes emotionally. But like you, they are still humans. They know what a good atmosphere is when they see one.

A dark, cramped, and cluttered home sets the wrong vibe. You want your home to get as much natural light as possible and make it feel and look more spacious than it actually is. Invest in quality paint and opt for neutral and mild colors that maximize the light. You can, of course, spruce it up a bit with a few vibrant colors to add a happy and energetic atmosphere. 

Similar to making an inviting feel, a clean and well-kept house gives off a positive vibe for home appraisers. This is where deep cleaning can help. 

While appraisers have to be objective and should ignore a little clutter inside your house, you cannot deny the positive feeling that a clean, fresh-smelling, and organized home provides. 

Keep a record of all the changes, upgrades, and renovations you’ve made

If you’ve been living in your house for a long time, there’s a good chance you’ve made some changes, upgrades, or renovations over the years. Make sure you capitalize on these upgrades by documenting all these things, with dates and the entire cost. 

Even a small upgrade like replacing the old countertop or getting a new dishwasher can positively impact the appraisal. 

If you are planning to make significant changes in your bathroom or kitchen, it would be best to hire reputable contractors and get all the necessary permits for these changes. Documents from these can all improve the appraisal value of your home. 

If you have plans to sell your house in the future, you can definitely increase demand by simply choosing quick and easy upgrades. Installing quartz or marble countertops and stainless steel appliances is proven to drive interest. 

Small finishes such as switching your old brass door knobs to brushed nickel door knobs can add a good modern vibe. 

Increase square footage

If you have any unfinished areas and spaces in your house, such as an unfinished basement, building out and finishing these spaces can be a relatively cheap way to add value to the house. 

Transforming an unfinished basement to a fully functional bedroom can quickly add 100 square feet to your property. This is because most home appraisers consider square footage and the number of bedrooms when calculating a property’s appraisal value. Subsequently, this is also a great way to increase your selling price should you decide to sell it in the future. 

Fix any necessary repairs

Appraisers will look for faults in your house, and these small faults and imperfections can affect the appraisal value of your home. 

Fix everything that needs to be fixed, such as broken fixtures and hardware, dripping faucets, leaky pipes, etc. It is so much easier to fix these small imperfections than to receive a list of faults of the things that negatively impact the house from the appraiser. Again, save yourself from trouble and opt for reputable contractors to fix the problems for you. They have the skills and tools for the job. 

Go green

More and more homebuyers are putting a bigger emphasis on eco-friendly features. It’s understandable, going green and having energy-efficient home features help save money on utility bills. 

Invest in energy-efficient appliances and install green features that can help conserve energy and gas consumption in your household. 

Also, consider getting a smart thermostat. This small upgrade can help save energy consumption in the long run. Buyers love this upgrade, and home appraisers know this. 

Final Tips

Some appraisers are unfamiliar with your area. Thus, when meeting up with your appraiser, it helps to mention any parks, malls, grocery stores, shopping centers, schools, and restaurants near your area. 

However, note that the appraiser is not there to chat with you. He/she has a job to do – to determine the value of your property. Avoid distracting them; don’t pester them and follow them around, and don’t ask a bunch of questions. Be ready to answer their questions that relate to your home though, but more importantly be honest with your answers. 

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