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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.

While LVP won’t increase home value as much as engineered hardwood, it can increase the value somewhat because it creates a warm and inviting aesthetic. It’s also durable and waterproof, so it can be appealing to homebuyers with pets and children. LVP is very low-maintenance, so that can also appeal to homebuyers who don’t want to spend a lot of time keeping up with an engineered or solid hardwood floor.

Whether a scullery is worth it depends on how much you like to cook and entertain. If you frequently host gatherings—a scullery is likely worth the money. If you’re looking for ROI, it’s not so clear. It may not add significant value to your home, as it doesn’t increase square footage and may repurpose space that a buyer would have preferred to remain as-is (like a laundry room). 

Mold can greatly impact your home's appraisal and lower your selling price if your home's on the market. Home appraisers take mold into account when figuring out a property's overall value. Mold will lower your home's price because it poses a health risk to household members and can compromise the structural integrity of the house. Mold will require remediation, which in extreme cases can be costly, so that is factored into your home's appraisal as well.