Before You Improve 2026

Home Value Upgrade Platform

Free access is open for now. Enter your house, ZIP, budget, soil type, and goals to compare home and lawn upgrades, spot wasteful projects, estimate DIY vs hire cost, plan project order, and print a report.

+ Upload Room, Exterior, or Yard Photo

Space ZIP code

Region Neighborhood

Market Budget

Estimated home value

Goal Sell soon Stay longer Rental / Airbnb Other goal

Visible issues or goals

Photo Preview The MVP uses your photo as planning context. AI room detection can be added in the next version.

Best idea Select filters

Average ROI --

Selected 0 projects

Estimated spend $0

ROI Calculator

Run Your Own Numbers

Project template Estimated project cost Expected value lift Possible annual utility savings Home value for spend check

Utility savings auto-fill from the selected project and region using a rough annual-bill assumption. Replace that number with the homeowner's real bill history when available. Use this as planning math only. Actual resale value depends on local comparable sales, appraisal rules, buyer demand, installation quality, permits, and market timing.

Front Lawn Planner

Grow the Lawn by ZIP and Soil Type

Front lawn size Soil type

ZIP soil hint Enter ZIP for a broad soil clue.

Sun Main lawn problem Target timing

USDA Web Soil Survey Texas A&M Soil Testing Urban Soil Test Form Sampling and Shipping Soil Test FAQ Texas Turf Establishment Guide

ZIP gives a broad climate read. For exact soil, use a soil test for nutrients/pH and USDA Web Soil Survey for mapped soil type. Fix water and compaction before buying seed, sod, or fertilizer. Lawn costs are planning ranges, not bids.

Appraisal Support Packet

Help Prove the Improvements

Property address Owner or contact Reason for packet Completed improvements Proof collected Comparable sales / appraiser notes Upload tax delinquency CSV Use a county export with address plus unpaid amount, balance, tax year, or delinquency columns.

Upload foreclosure CSV Use an auction, notice, trustee sale, lis pendens, or foreclosure export with address and status/date columns.

Foreclosure status Foreclosure date Foreclosure source and checked date Foreclosure notes Upload school data CSV Use an assigned-school, district, school rating, attendance zone, or education export with address or ZIP columns.

School district Assigned schools School rating / score School source and checked date School notes Upload local crime CSV Use a police incident, call-for-service, neighborhood crime, or city open-data export with address, ZIP, offense, date, or count columns.

Local crime summary Most common offenses Crime period / distance Crime source and checked date Crime notes Unpaid property tax amount Tax year or period Tax source and checked date Tax delinquency notes

This packet does not guarantee value. It helps organize proof so updates, permits, warranties, and photos are easier to review during appraisal, refinance, sale, insurance, or rental planning.

Suggested Projects

Project Ideas

Costs are planning estimates. Get local quotes before spending, borrowing, or listing.

Shortlist

Project Summary

Email Report

Email me this report

Save the report request with your name, email, ZIP, budget, goal, and selected project interests.

Name Email

Are you thinking about selling? What help would be useful next?

Planning numbers are not appraisals, contractor bids, lending advice, tax advice, or guarantees of resale value. Verify permits, safety conditions, financing terms, and local market fit before starting work.

Want the full planning guide? Find Before You Improve 2026 on Amazon.

Help improve this free tool: send feedback or request a missing project.