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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.

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.

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.

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.