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Real Estate Agents questions, answered by experts

A fireplace can increase a home's value by as much as 12%, with some reports indicating that homes with fireplaces list for around 13% more than the median sale price. Fireplaces are both functional and aesthetically pleasing, adding a charm that many homebuyers find desirable. The actual return on investment depends on the fireplace's size, type, and material.

However, a fireplace can detract from a property's value if it is unusable, not up to code, or in need of immediate repairs. The type of fireplace also matters; custom electric fireplaces and inserts can add value, while freestanding units that can be removed have less impact.

If a home's appraised value comes in lower than the offer price, it can create complications with financing. Lenders typically won't issue a loan for more than the property's market value, as this can push the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio too high and may prevent the loan from being approved. Your options depend on whether your purchase agreement includes an appraisal contingency. If there is no contingency, both parties may be locked into the deal, meaning the buyer pays more than the appraised value. If a contingency exists, the buyer can usually renegotiate the price or withdraw from the deal. If a buyer still wishes to proceed, they can try to negotiate a lower price, increase their down payment to cover the difference, or get a second appraisal.

Wainscoting isn’t a design element that can be directly tied to an increased house price. Despite that, it is a highly marketable element that can generate significant interest from potential buyers who enjoy the style, and is relatively inexpensive to remove for those who don’t. If you are on the fence about paneling, just know that it certainly wouldn’t result in depreciation of your home’s value—usually the opposite. 

You should aim to have three or more bedrooms for the best resale value, and having four bedrooms is considered the gold standard. Having just two bedrooms is a functional obsolescence for larger family sizes, so a minimum of three bedrooms is ideal. Adding square footage from additional bedrooms will almost always be worthwhile, though, and can easily provide an ROI of 70%.

If the sales agreement has a clause that allows the seller to renegotiate based on the appraised value, then they might be able to back out if the appraisal comes in higher than your offer price. If the agreement doesn’t have that language, then the seller has no legal recourse to back out. They could hold a higher offer as a backup and move onto that one if yours falls through for any reason, but once the agreement is signed, the seller is locked into that purchase price unless there’s a clause stating they can renegotiate.

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