Home Appraisal: How You Can Get Ready

How can you have the best possible result when the appraiser comes to call? Don’t wait
until the sale is in process. Do get ready for the appraisal before or the minute your
home is listed. This accomplishes two things:

• You are ready when the appraiser shows up.
• You have an opportunity to get the home into the best possible condition early. This
  often attracts more buyers and higher offers.
  You can’t lose. Here are six important steps you can take, before and during the
  appraisal process.

MAKE COSMETIC IMPROVEMENTS.

This is something every homeowner should do when getting ready to list their home. It
attracts prospective buyers. And it also shows the appraiser that there is pride of
ownership in the property and that it’s been well maintained.

Think about things like caulking around tubs and sinks, re-grouting tile, or cleaning
existing grout. Power wash the outside of your house. Touch up paint, both inside and
outside. Look for wear on your walls and trim, or repaint entire rooms if the colors are
outdated. If your teenager has plastered walls with hip-hop posters or sprinkled the
ceiling with stars, neutralize these items before realtors, buyers, or appraisers show up.

HELP YOUR REALTOR COMPILE COMPARABLE SALES.

Let your realtor know of homes that have recently been sold in your area. Add
community information as well. For example, if the community pool was recently
upgraded or new playground equipment was added to the local park, that affects overall
values in the neighborhood. Add this information to whatever material you provide to the
appraiser.

MAKE A LIST OF UPGRADES.

You have taken steps to improve your home, and some of these improvements may not
be visible. For example, if you’ve recently had your gas log fireplace and chimney
cleaned and old parts replaced, mention it. If you’ve have the driveway resurfaced,
repaired the foundation, or cleaned the gutters, add those items to the list.

New landscaping, tree trimming, or sprinkler system additions will make a difference to
some buyers and certainly add value to the bottom line. Anything you do that saves
work and expense for the buyer after the sale is well worth mentioning.

PUT OUT THE WELCOME MAT.

You don’t necessarily have to greet the appraiser at the door with a cup of coffee and a
warm muffin (although some would probably find that to be a welcome change!)
However, you do need to do whatever it takes to make the appraiser’s job as easy as
possible.

If it’s winter, make sure your home is warm and inviting. If it’s a hot summer day, turn on
the air conditioning. This not only keeps the appraiser comfortable, it assures him or her
that all systems are in working order. If your attic, basement, or crawl space is awkward
to get to, do what you can to provide easy access.

DO THE DISAPPEARING ACT.

You don’t need to be present when the appraiser arrives, but if you are, stay well out of
sight and be available if there are questions that need to be answered. If you have
children or pets, make sure they are not around for the appraisal. Check the property for
bikes and toys lying in the yard. Confine inside toys to your kid’s rooms. Have things
tidy for the appraiser’s visit.

A good appraisal is important to all the parties who are involved in a home sale. The
lender wants to be sure that the home is worth at least as much as the loan amount
they are providing. You want to know that you are getting a fair price for your property,
and your potential buyers want to be sure that they’re not overpaying. The appraiser,
who is an unbiased third party, needs all the appropriate information that will allow him
or her to provide all three parties with a realistic picture of the home’s true value. Follow
these guidelines and you’ll create a win-win-win for everyone involved.

More tips on selling your home