While some aspects of an appraisal, such as comparable properties nearby, are out of your control, there are several steps you can take to potentially increase your home's value. Make any necessary repairs and upgrades before the appraiser's visit, as they can only value what is currently part of the home, not its potential. Examples include renovating older areas, updating landscaping to boost curb appeal, and staging your home. You can also provide the appraiser with the cost of recent upgrades, which may increase your home's value by about 50% or more of what you paid for those improvements.

Whether a scullery is worth it depends on how much you like to cook and entertain. If you frequently host gatherings—a scullery is likely worth the money. If you’re looking for ROI, it’s not so clear. It may not add significant value to your home, as it doesn’t increase square footage and may repurpose space that a buyer would have preferred to remain as-is (like a laundry room). 

Wainscoting isn’t a design element that can be directly tied to an increased house price. Despite that, it is a highly marketable element that can generate significant interest from potential buyers who enjoy the style, and is relatively inexpensive to remove for those who don’t. If you are on the fence about paneling, just know that it certainly wouldn’t result in depreciation of your home’s value—usually the opposite. 

Yes, home appraisers look at your windows when appraising your property to determine the market value of your home. They’ll factor in the type of windows, quality, condition, whether or not there are screens covering the windows, frame materials, size, insulation, and more to come up with an unbiased property assessment.