How to Increase Home Value for an Appraisal

List of upgrades to increase appraisal

Increasing a home’s appraisal value doesn’t always require a great deal of time and money. In fact, investing in big, expensive improvements usually won’t recoup your spend dollar for dollar. Instead, focus on some of these distinct tasks that are known to carry weight with appraisers and typically have a positive ROI.

Exterior improvements to increase home value for appraisal

Basic yard care

Though it’s not at the top of their list, curb appeal does play a role in how an appraiser values a home. Their job is to look at the overall condition and quality of the house, as well as the property. Tidy up the grounds, remove any dead trees, repair walkways, and seal driveways.

“The one thing that isn’t going to hurt you is if your home looks well-cared for,” Axtell says.

Fresh paint

Applying a fresh coat of paint to a home’s exterior can quickly make an aging home look 10 years younger.

Though the average cost of doing this is about $3,178, it adds an estimated $10,184 in resale value for a 320% ROI, a HomeLight survey of top agents found. While scaling your home, most professional painters will also make minor repairs to its siding, such as nailing down warped wood or caulking any gaps or cracks.

Install new garage door

The Uniform Residential Appraisal Report specifically requires appraisers to mark whether a home has a garage and how many cars it holds, as well as whether they see any physical deficiencies with the property. If your garage door looks worse for the wear, consider investing in a replacement. Remodeling Magazine found that installing a new garage door in 2024 recouped 193.9% of the cost.

Spruce up front door and porch

The front door and porch are some of the first things appraisers and prospective buyers see when they approach a home. If you don’t get the entire exterior of your home repainted, it’s worth at least having these items freshened up to make a good first impression.

Interior improvements to increase home value for appraisal

Kitchen and/or bathroom update

Recognizing how heavily people value kitchens and bathrooms, appraisers pay especially close attention to the condition of and materials used for these areas of a home. Of all the interior spaces, these areas can often have the greatest dollar-for-dollar ROI when updated smartly.

“When you’re talking about improvements, you can usually get a pretty good return on stuff like kitchens and baths,” Axtell says.

However, every circumstance is different, so it’s good to discuss with a professional what is worth replacing or resurfacing and what isn’t.

Freshen up walls

Fill in any nail or tack holes, touch up the paint, and repair any damaged trim. While cosmetic in nature, these types of details make a difference in how appraisers and potential buyers perceive a home’s value.

“When you walk into a house and it looks pretty darn clean and you don’t really see any issues, it’s kind of like, ‘Okay, this house has been well kept,’” Axtell says.

Make minor repairs

This is the time to tighten up any loose railings, leaky faucets, or runny toilets. These are easy fixes that, if taken care of, can avoid any unnecessary value deductions.

“If you have a lot of minor things that need to be corrected, then it adds up and impacts the condition,” Axtell says.

Install shutters

If you’re looking to add a little extra style to your home while still keeping the appraisal in mind, Axtell says interior shutters with tilted wooden louvers are a good addition.

“Shutters are always a nice feature for a lot of folks to put in, and you can usually get a pretty good return on them,” he says.

Check that everything works

Turn on every appliance and switch to make sure it all works properly. Heating and cooling systems are especially important since they’re considered necessary for a home’s livability. Fix anything that’s faulty.