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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.

From the underwriter to the home inspector, the team working to help you buy a house is there to make sure it is a sound financial decision and that the house is worth what you're paying for it. 

A sale can fall through when a mortgage lender discovers the cost of the home plus closing costs is too high for your current financial status. Another potential issue is that an inspector or appraiser can find issues with the home that halt the sale if the offer is far higher than what it's worth.

You may be able to negotiate an as-is purchase, but many sellers who list their homes as-is aren’t willing to lower their asking price since they’ve already accounted for the price of repairs. Homes are often listed as-is for a quick sale, so there’s a chance a seller may negotiate in order to make the sale—it never hurts to ask.

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.