Covered Carport/Laundry Room Value

[Colton Norman]

I am under contract to purchase a SFH in a cash flow friendly area. The plan is to BRRR the property and keep it long-term. Before closing I am trying to come up with strategies to maximize the appraisal value at minimum cost invested. I am looking for some advice on where you would spend the money?

1. The house has a covered carport that was added on at some point.  It has a drop ceiling and 2 doors - one leading into the house and one out to the driveway.  The floor is lower than the rest of the house and is concrete, with steps leading down into the room from the house.   They put in a small kitchenette combined with laundry units that seems to be some type of food-prep area.  Cabinets are old and some broken.    My first thought is to update the cabinets here and flooring, and integrate the washer/dryer into the cabinets to create a true laundry room/storage area.  Any other ideas that would add more value?

2. The house is a 1.5 bath.  The .5 bath is adjacent to the other bath and I could expand it to add a shower, bringing it up to a 2 full bath home.

Seeing as I likely only have money in the budget for 1 of these scenarios.  Which would be better for appraisal value?

Thanks!