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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.

Garden windows can add value to your home and are an attractive feature for potential homebuyers. These windows add a custom look to your home and usable shelf space for homeowners with a green thumb. You’ll likely recoup your investment when it comes time to sell.

Repiping a house is a worthy investment in several scenarios. Key indicators that it's time to repipe include having pipes that are over 50 years old, experiencing frequent leaks and repairs, or noticing signs of corrosion and low water quality. It is especially important to replace pipes made from certain materials; lead pipes can cause serious health issues, galvanized steel can lead to rusty water, and polybutylene pipes can leach chemicals into your water supply.

Investing in new plumbing can prevent costly problems like water damage and mold growth. New pipes can last anywhere from 50 to 100 years, saving you money on future repairs and high water bills. Repiping can also increase your home's overall value and improve efficiency, for example, by using PEX pipes for lines that don't carry hot water. The cost to repipe a house typically ranges from $1,500 to $15,000.

Termite damage isn’t always a deal breaker when buying a house, but don’t dismiss it. If that’s the case, you should hire a professional termite inspection to understand the extent of the damage, type of termite, state of repairs, and whether the infestation is gone.

If the termites are gone and the current owners repaired the damage, you might want to proceed. You may even be able to use the damage as a bargaining point. However, don’t forget that home insurance policies often don’t cover termite treatment or repairs and active infestations are tricky to shift.