09/03/2026
You LOVE that $40,000 kitchen renovation. 😍
But does the appraiser love it $40,000 worth?
Not necessarily. 👀
One of the biggest misconceptions about home value is thinking every dollar you put INTO your house is a dollar you’ll get back OUT of it.
That’s not exactly how appraisals work.
📍 Location matters.
🏡 Comparable sales matter.
📐 Size and layout matter.
🔨 Condition and updates matter.
🚗 Features matter.
At the end of the day, value has to be supported by the market for a home like yours.
And this year, there’s another appraisal update homeowners should know about.
Beginning November 2, 2026, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are requiring new appraisal submissions to use an updated reporting standard called UAD 3.6.
The redesigned appraisal report creates a more detailed and standardized way to document a property, including its characteristics, condition, quality, square footage and features.
What it DOESN’T do is suddenly give your new kitchen a predetermined dollar value.
That’s why understanding your particular home—and which improvements buyers in your market actually value—continues to matter.
Before you pick up a hammer, talk to a Realtor.
Every property doesn’t need the same improvements, and every property certainly doesn’t need the same level of improvements.
Depending on your home, neighborhood and local market, spending $50,000 on a renovation may not make any more sense from a resale perspective than making a strategic $15,000 update.
A Realtor can help you evaluate what comparable homes offer, what buyers are actually paying for and where your renovation dollars may have the greatest impact.
Because sometimes the smartest improvement decision is knowing what NOT to renovate.
Planning improvements before you sell? 📩 DM me before you pick up the hammer. Let’s look at the numbers first.
