How to improve the value of an assessed house

Upgrade list for improving assessment

It doesn’t always take a lot of time and money to increase the appraised value of a home. In fact, investing in a lot of expensive improvements does not usually recoup your spending for the dollar. Instead, focus on a few different tasks known to carry the weight of the assessor, often with a positive ROI.

External improvements to increase the value of the assessed home

Basic yard care

Although it is not their list, curb appeal does play a role in how assessors value the house. Their job is to look at the overall condition and quality of the house and the property. Organize the ground, remove any dead trees, repair sidewalks and seal driveways.

“One thing that won’t hurt you is if your home looks very giving,” Axtel said.

Fresh paint

Applying a fresh coat of paint to the exterior of the house can quickly make an aging house look 10 years younger.

Although the average cost to do this is about $3,178, an estimated 320% return on investment adds $10,184 in resale value. While scaling the house, most professional painters will also perform minor repairs on their siding, such as nailing twisted wood or filling any gaps or cracks.

Install new garage doors

The unified residential assessment report specifically requires the assessor to mark whether the house has a garage and how many cars, and whether they see any physical defects in the property. If your garage door looks worse, consider making a replacement. The remodeling magazine found that the cost of installing a new garage door in 2024 is 193.9%.

Spruce on the front door and porch

Front doors and porch are the first thing that evaluaters and prospective buyers do when they approach home. If you haven’t repainted the entire exterior of your home, it’s at least worth the refresh of these items to make a good first impression.

Internal improvements to increase the value of the assessed home

Kitchen and/or bathroom updates

Recognizing how people value kitchens and bathrooms, the appraisers pay special attention to the condition and materials of these areas of the house. In all internal spaces, these areas can usually have the largest dollar ROI when they are cleverly updated.

“When you talk about improvements, you can usually get pretty good returns on items like kitchens and baths,” Axtell said.

However, each situation is different, so it is best to talk to the professional about what is worth changing or repaving and what is not.

Fresh walls

Fill in any nails or nail holes, embellish the paint, and then repair any damaged decorations. Although essentially cosmetics, these types of details change how the appraisers and potential buyers view the value of the home.

“When you walk into the house and it looks clean and you really don’t see any problems, it’s like, ‘Okay, this house has been well preserved.’

Carry out minor repairs

Now it’s time to tighten any loose railings, leaky faucets or runny noses. These are simple fixes that can avoid any unnecessary deductions of value if handled.

“If you need to correct a lot of secondary things, it will add up and affect the condition,” Axtel said.

Install blinds

If you want to add some extra style to your home while still keeping the assessment in mind, Axtell says interior shutters with sloping wooden shutters are a great addition.

“Blinds are always a nice feature that many people want to put in, and usually you can give them a pretty good reward,” he said.

Check if everything works

Turn on each device and switch it to make sure everything is working. Heating and cooling systems are particularly important because they are considered necessary for the livability of the house. Fix anything wrong.