Had something similar happen last year—appraiser completely overlooked our custom outdoor kitchen. Like seriously, how do you miss a massive built-in grill and stone countertops? 😂 Had to gently point it out with photos and receipts, and yeah, it made a solid difference. Definitely agree on documenting everything... you can't assume they'll notice or appreciate the finer details unless you clearly highlight them. Sometimes you've gotta advocate for your home's value yourself.
Curious, did you provide the appraiser with a detailed list of upgrades beforehand, or did you wait until after the appraisal came back lower? I've seen situations where homeowners assume certain features are obvious, but appraisers might just be following a checklist or standard criteria. Maybe providing that info upfront could help avoid the hassle of corrections later... Has anyone tried this approach and found it made a difference in their appraisal outcome?
"Maybe providing that info upfront could help avoid the hassle of corrections later..."
Definitely agree with this. A few clients I've worked with had better outcomes by clearly listing upgrades beforehand—especially less obvious ones like custom cabinetry or upgraded insulation. Appraisers won't always catch those details otherwise...
I've noticed this too, but I'm wondering if it's always enough? A while back, I had a project where we listed every single upgrade—down to the custom drawer pulls and specialty lighting fixtures—and the appraisal still came in lower than expected. Made me wonder if appraisers sometimes rely more on neighborhood comps than the actual details of the home itself...?
Maybe it's not just about listing upgrades clearly, but also about how they're presented or explained? Like, do appraisers respond better when upgrades are tied directly to energy efficiency or long-term value rather than aesthetics alone? I've been curious about this ever since that experience because it felt like we did everything right and still got a disappointing result.
You know, I've run into similar situations on a few projects, and honestly, I've started to think appraisers just don't weigh certain upgrades as heavily as we might expect—especially the aesthetic stuff. A couple years ago, I worked on a remodel where the homeowners invested heavily in custom cabinetry and imported tile. Beautiful stuff, really top-notch craftsmanship. But when the appraisal came back, it was barely above the neighborhood average.
When I talked to the appraiser, they mentioned something interesting: their valuation guidelines often prioritize upgrades that have measurable, market-supported value—like energy-efficient windows, insulation, or HVAC upgrades—over purely aesthetic choices. So while custom drawer pulls and specialty lighting fixtures might make a home feel luxurious, they're harder to quantify in terms of resale value. It seems like appraisers lean heavily on comps because that's what buyers and lenders rely on most.
Not saying aesthetics don't matter—they absolutely do—but maybe it's worth considering that certain upgrades just won't translate directly into appraisal dollars, no matter how clearly they're presented. It's frustrating, but it might help set expectations for future projects.
