Last year we redid our kitchen—new cabinets, granite countertops, and updated appliances. It looks great, but when we had the house appraised recently, the increase in value was way less than what we spent. Kinda bummed about it honestly... anyone else had something similar happen?
Had something similar happen with our historic home. We restored original hardwood floors, repaired plaster walls, and even sourced period-accurate fixtures. Thought we'd see a nice bump in value, but the appraisal was just... meh. After chatting with an appraiser friend, learned that renovations rarely return dollar-for-dollar—especially the specialized stuff. Still worth it for us though, since we love the character. Maybe think of it more as investing in your own enjoyment rather than purely financial?
I see your point, and from my experience, that's pretty spot-on. I've worked with homeowners who've poured significant money into custom cabinetry, high-end tile work, or historically accurate restorations, expecting a big payoff. But the reality is, appraisers tend to favor more universally appealing upgrades—like modern kitchens, bathrooms, or energy-efficient improvements—since these have broader market appeal.
That said, specialized renovations aren't necessarily a bad investment. They can set your home apart in a competitive market, especially if you find a buyer who values authenticity or craftsmanship. Plus, as you've mentioned, there's real value in enjoying your own space. I've had clients who didn't see immediate financial returns but felt their quality of life improved dramatically after renovating.
Maybe it's helpful to think of renovations as having two types of value: market value and personal value. Both matter, just in different ways. Curious though—did your appraiser friend mention any specific renovations that do consistently boost appraisal numbers?
"Maybe it's helpful to think of renovations as having two types of value: market value and personal value."
That's a great way to frame it. I've found that curb appeal upgrades—like landscaping or fresh exterior paint—often give a surprisingly solid appraisal boost. Have you noticed the same trend?
That's a great way to frame it. I've found that curb appeal upgrades—like landscaping or fresh exterior paint—often give a surprisingly solid appraisal boost.
Yeah, curb appeal stuff seems to give a better return in my experience too. We did some basic landscaping and painted our front door and shutters last spring—nothing fancy, just freshened things up—and the appraisal came back higher than expected. Big interior projects like kitchens or bathrooms seem to be more about personal enjoyment than actual resale value, at least from what I've seen.
