Your home insurance company may allow you to use an appraisal instead of an inspection when you apply for coverage. Keep in mind that despite this, an appraisal is far less detailed than the different types of home inspections available and may not reveal potential risks that you’ll want to know about.

Yes, a garage apartment is generally considered a valuable asset as long as the new structure has been legally built. It's important to weigh the cost to build a garage with an apartment against the cost to convert a garage to living space if you already have a garage.

A shed that connects to water or electrical services is likely to be assessed for property taxes; however, tax assessments vary around the country. Since every state and local municipality differ regarding property taxes, you should contact your city to determine whether or not you’re required to pay property taxes. Some states consider sheds or detached garages taxable if they have water, sewer, and electricity installed.

In most cases, installing a tennis court on your property will drive up your property taxes. Property taxes are determined, in part, based on improvements made to your property, which includes anything with a permanent foundation. Since most home tennis courts include a large concrete foundation, your property taxes will likely increase following the installation. A general rule of thumb is that if your project requires permits—like for a foundation or fencing for a tennis court—then your property taxes will be affected.