We had something similar happen with our kitchen—brand-new quartz countertops, custom cabinetry...and the appraiser barely glanced at it. Sending over a quick summary and pics definitely helped bump things up a bit, though not as much as we hoped. Seems pretty common unfortunately.
Had a similar experience when we refinanced last year. We put in hardwood floors and updated the bathrooms, thinking it'd make a noticeable difference. The appraiser barely acknowledged it. Seems like they focus more on comparable sales in the area rather than specific upgrades. It was frustrating at first, but in the end, it still helped a bit. Hang in there—you're definitely not alone in this.
Did the appraiser mention anything specific about comps in your area? I've seen this happen a lot—homeowners put in quality upgrades, but the appraisal still hinges heavily on neighborhood sales. It's frustrating, especially when you've invested time and money into improvements. Still, those upgrades usually pay off in the long run, either through resale value or just enjoying your home more. Hang tight...you're definitely not alone in feeling this way.
Did the appraiser happen to mention if your upgrades were typical for the neighborhood, or did they stand out as higher-end compared to nearby homes? I've seen cases where homeowners go all-in on premium finishes, but if the surrounding comps don't match up, appraisers tend to undervalue those improvements. It's frustrating, I know...but maybe your upgrades will set a new benchmark for future appraisals in your area. Have you checked if any recent sales nearby had similar renovations?
Had something similar happen a couple years back. We went a little nuts with imported marble countertops and custom cabinetry—felt amazing at the time, but the appraisal came back disappointingly low. Turns out, most neighbors stuck with builder-grade finishes, so our upgrades didn't really have comps to justify the value. Eventually, another house nearby sold with similar upgrades, and that helped reset the bar a bit. Might just take some patience for the neighborhood to catch up...
