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Yes, it could be worth buying and remodeling an old house. You can potentially purchase an older house for a lower price than a newer house. With less of an upfront investment, you can devote more of your budget to the remodeling work. If you’re thinking of remodeling an old house and then reselling it—called house flipping—focus on projects that deliver the best ROI for home improvements.

Some of the home repairs with the highest ROI that can improve appraised value include exterior paint, new exterior doors, new windows, landscaping, kitchen and bathroom renovations, new flooring, new interior paint, finishing a basement, home additions that add to the square footage, and replacing major components, like the roof, heating and cooling equipment, and the water heater. Upgrades to home energy efficiency are also a big hit with buyers and can add significantly to value, as are smart home integrations.

Yes, high ceilings can increase your home's value when it's time to sell. According to some studies, homes with ceilings that are 9 feet or higher can sell for up to 6% more than homes with lower ceilings. While other factors like your home’s location and condition are more impactful, homes with high ceilings have a greater perceived value. Buyers often appreciate the extra space and modern feel that high or vaulted ceilings provide, making it a potentially worthwhile investment.

As a seller, it might feel tempting to skip the appraisal, especially in a hot market that sees a lot of all-cash offers. While you can technically forgo it and hope for an all-cash offer, you’ll likely have a very tough time selling without an appraisal. 

In addition to protecting lenders from risk, appraisals also protect buyers’ investments. As such, it isn’t typically recommended for buyers to skip appraisals.