Planning to add a kitchen upstairs/enlarge our bathroom on the main floor/finish the basement (including adding a small kitchenette)/add dedicated entries for each unit, etc. 

I would look to enlarging room if at all possible.

And you'll have new cracks in unexpected places, old cracks that will not close, but instead enlarge.

I will probably have some of the kitchen enlarged because an old "phone room" butts into it.  

And you'll have new cracks in unexpected places, old cracks that will not close, but instead enlarge.

Some or none of this may have taken place but I doubt the gas valve enlarged the bill.

If you are enlarging the home, then you would have to add more cost for construction. 

We replaced all of the windows anyway, so just enlarged the two in the master.

Can’t enlarge the pic, but that looks like just s bad joint muffing/taping job.

Here's some updates for this project:+ Deficiencies: - 3 beds but only 1 bath- 2 of the bedrooms are only 9' wide- kitchen is only 8' wide, closed in (through an 3' opening)- boring front elevation + Bonuses:- big front yard- big back yard- great size side yard+ Master plan:- Expand rear wall backward 2 more feet: enlarge bedrooms from 9' to 11' wide; make kitchen bigger & open floor plan- Bring front wall frontward to enlarge family room- Add master bathroom as a second one- Add small porch to make it looks a little more curb appeal.- Build a brand new ADU (2nd unit) in the back!