Tips Before Your Appraisal

Do your research. Walk or drive the neighborhood. Go to open houses, to get an idea of what’s for sale, asking prices, and final sale prices. Gather information from trusted sources, and request your free Property Analysis her at HomeValueFirst.com. This comparative information will give you an idea of the value of similar homes in your area.

Make a List of Upgrades. Every home requires upkeep and maintenance. Make a list of all improvements you have made to your home, big or small, for as far back as you can remember. Provide this list to the appraiser as proof of the maintenance and improvements you’ve made that will serve to increase your home’s value. Make minor repairs Fix small problems that could affect the appraisal value. Most of these items are the type of repairs you may be able to do yourself. For example, you might replace damaged moulding, fix a leaky toilet or sink. Maybe replace a broken door or bathroom fixture. Minor issues do not cause major adjustments to your appraisal value, but they add up. They also force the appraiser to spend more time taking notes.

Paint. Make your home appealing. Consider cleaning, repainting, or touching up faded or peeling paint inside and outside the house. There’s a saying,” Paint in a can, ten dollars…Paint on a wall, one thousand dollars.”

Clean up. Get out the vacuum, dust the shelves, straighten your kitchen, empty the trash, and mow your lawn. Making your home and landscape appear in peak condition may have a positive effect on the appraiser.

Safety equipment. Three required items are often overlooked by homeowners. Appraisers will look for these items during the appraisal. 1. Earthquake straps on water heaters. Two straps per heater are required. 2. Smoke detectors are required and 3. A single CO sensor now required per unit.

Don’t pressure or follow the appraiser around. Never push your appraiser to inflate your home appraisal. Not only is it unethical, it is considered illegal in some cases. Lenders and homeowners can report inaccurate evaluations to the Office of Real Estate Appraisers.