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Preparing for a Home Appraisal

By
Home Inspector

If you are in the process of selling or re-financing your home, a home appraisal will in all likelihood be part of the process.  In fact, in today’s real estate market, the home appraisal is often the make-or-break key to determining whether or not the deal can go through.  Therefore, it is essential as a homeowner to do everything possible to maximize the value an appraiser will determine for your home.  Though the lot size, square footage and building materials are the biggest determinant of the final value, the condition of the home will have a large impact on the figure that the appraiser determines.

When preparing for an appraisal it is best to take a systematic approach.  Begin with the exterior.  Inspect all of the windows on the home for missing or broken screens or shutters.  If there is extensive grime on one or more walls of the house, a pressure-washing may be in order.  Remove any trash and dead plant matter from the yard.  Inspect the shrubbery around the house, trim any that is overgrown, and remove dead or dying plants.  If the appraisal is in the summertime, regularly water the yard for at least two weeks before the appraisal to improve the quality of the lawn.  Inspect doors and frames for chipped paint.  If you only have time for one paint project, the front door and door frame are the most important.

As far as the interior goes, the first and most important requirement is for the home to be clean and tidy.  In addition to standard cleaning items such as dishes, and vacuuming, homeowners should look to remove marks on walls, clean the areas around door handles, and make sure there are no cobwebs in the corners.  The windows should be cleaned.  Just as important is to tackle and remove house clutter.  In addition to cleaning, be sure to handle any maintenance issues before the appraiser arrives.  Replace burnt-out light bulbs, touch-up paint where necessary, and complete any outstanding home repairs.

In addition to making sure your home presents well, be prepared to share important information about how well you’ve maintained your home with your appraiser.  Make a list of all of the home improvement projects you’ve done since moving into the home.  They will have access to the last appraisal that was made of the home when you purchased it, and this will help the appraiser to know ways in which you’ve added value to the home.  This could include major renovations to kitchens, bathrooms and basements, but also more minor improvements such as painting, window and door replacement, and landscaping.

Finally, be sure to be present in your home during the appraisal.  This way you can answer any questions your appraiser may have, especially regarding improvements you’ve made to the home.  

Comments (1)

Lucien Vaillancourt
Native Sun Realty, Inc. - Jacksonville, FL
Jacksonville Florida Real Estate

All good advice Clinton.  In fact, you could copy and paste this info to a post about how to prepare a home for marketing.  It makes sense since a buyer will need to be convinced there is value in a property in much the same manner as an appraiser.

Sep 08, 2011 04:21 AM