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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.

Electric bills tend to be lower in spring and fall because people use less electricity during these seasons. Milder temperatures allow for less use of heating and cooling, unlike during winter and summer, which usually bring more extreme temperatures.

A whole-house humidifier can positively impact energy consumption by improving heating efficiency. During colder months, humidified air feels warmer, which allows you to lower your thermostat without sacrificing comfort. This adjustment can lead to significant energy savings as your heating system works more efficiently. However, it's important to use the humidifier judiciously, as excessive humidity could potentially strain your cooling system in warmer months.

Blower door tests are measured in a few different ways, but the most popular are air changes per hour (ACH) and cubic feet of air (CFM) moving through the house per hour. A good ACH score is less than 2ACH, but 1ACH is better. This means the house experiences a total air change within 60 minutes (for 1ACH). For 2ACH, there’s a complete change every 30 minutes, and so on. CFM scores are similar in that a lower score means less air change, and therefore less leakage.