The cost to appraise a home depends on the type. Common types include:

• Single-family homes: $300–$400

• FHA or VA single-family homes: $400–$500

• Condominium: $300–$500

• Multi-family home: $500–$1,000

• Apartment building: $1,500–$3,000

• Commercial properties: $1,400–$10,000

• Raw land: $1,000–$8,000

An FHA appraisal is valid for 180 days from the effective date of the report. In some cases, you can have the appraisal recertified if you make your request before the original expires so that you still may obtain an FHA loan. If approved, your appraisal update is valid for one year.

Basement bedrooms can count toward your room count and the square footage of your home on an appraisal if they’re fully legal, which means they have proper ventilation and points of egress, as defined by your local building code. Simply partitioning off a space for a bedroom in an otherwise unfinished basement that isn’t a legal living space won’t affect your appraisal value.

Xeriscaping can absolutely increase your home value, but the return on investment (ROI) depends on where you live and how prevalent xeriscaping is in your area. In drought-prone climates, xeriscaping can boost your curb appeal and make your home more appealing to buyers due to the reduced maintenance and watering costs. However, in areas where xeriscaping isn’t the norm, some buyers may be willing to pay less for a xeriscaped property if they don’t like the appearance.