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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.

While Craftsman-style houses are bungalows, cottages typically aren’t, though they can be. But they also differ in other stylistic aspects. For instance, cottages usually have simpler designs and painted woodwork.

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.

While there's not a lot of definite research, some experts suggest that an in-ground or wall-mounted basketball hoop can add value to your home by increasing curb appeal. In addition, having a basketball hoop is an attractive feature of a house since it promotes physical activity, especially for children.