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Yes, adding central air can increase your home value by as much as 10%. Generally speaking, prospective buyers prefer a central AC system over a ductless system or room-by-room AC units. That’s because central air conditioning blends into the home easier than individual room air conditioners and typically has less equipment to maintain.

Adding a detached garage can increase the home's value by a healthy amount, provided it's well-constructed, permitted, and inspected. The return on investment for a detached garage depends on the structure's size and function, as well as its quality. On average, consumers who add a detached garage can expect their home's value to increase by between $12,000 and $36,000. 

Repiping a house is a worthy investment in several scenarios. Key indicators that it's time to repipe include having pipes that are over 50 years old, experiencing frequent leaks and repairs, or noticing signs of corrosion and low water quality. It is especially important to replace pipes made from certain materials; lead pipes can cause serious health issues, galvanized steel can lead to rusty water, and polybutylene pipes can leach chemicals into your water supply.

Investing in new plumbing can prevent costly problems like water damage and mold growth. New pipes can last anywhere from 50 to 100 years, saving you money on future repairs and high water bills. Repiping can also increase your home's overall value and improve efficiency, for example, by using PEX pipes for lines that don't carry hot water. The cost to repipe a house typically ranges from $1,500 to $15,000.

It’s often a good idea to take care of any health and safety repairs before an appraisal to make sure the mortgage can move to underwriting without having to pay for another appraisal. Replace any broken glass, fix uneven or sloping floors, ensure all steps have appropriate handrails, and have a professional get rid of mold, asbestos, and lead paint. Beyond these repairs, you can update appliances or fixtures and focus on aesthetic improvements like new paint to add the most value before scheduling an appraisal.