text: What Is Sweat Equity? | Home Guides | SF Gate
  "Appraisal Booster" Projects for Home Remodeling
  Will Remodeling Increase the Value of a Home?
  Homeowners can improve the value of their properties in a number of different ways. One of the most common ways to improve a home or other property's value is through "sweat equity." Basically, when you put effort into your home to improve it, you often create additional value, or sweat equity. Common forms of sweat equity in a home include new paint or other do-it-yourself (DIY) projects.
  Sweat equity isn't only limited to homeowners engaging in DIY projects to improve their properties. Any business or enterprise that improves a building's value generates sweat equity. However, residential real estate is where the term "sweat equity" is commonly applied. Simple low-cost but high-effort home improvement projects can often create a great deal of sweat equity that can actually be quantified.
  Creating Sweat Equity
  Real estate professionals often have lists of which sweat equity projects undertaken by homeowners are the most valuable. Real estate appraisers also look at various sweat equity home improvements before placing valuations on properties. In terms of most-bang-for-the-buck, spending a little money to tile a home's entryway or foyer ranks highly in sweat equity value. Also, painting kitchen cabinets, typically accomplished for less than $200, returns a high level of sweat equity value.
  Less-Valuable Projects
  Some home improvement projects may not be worth doing in terms of increasing sweat equity value. Swapping out entry doors, cabinets or other items with more-expensive replacements is often a waste of sweat equity toil. For example, high-priced new fiberglass entry doors lose 44 percent of their value once installed while much-less-expensive steel doors retain 77 percent of value. Adding brightly colored appliances also often fail to improve home values.
  If you're intent on improving your home's value through sweat equity, lighten and brighten it by cleaning its exterior and interior first. Power washing siding and cleaning windows and even adding a fresh coat of paint are valuable forms of sweat equity. Additionally, decluttering your home can add to its value when selling it. Lastly, sprucing up any landscaping by trimming bushes, planting flowers and the like instantly adds sweat equity value to your home.