What Should You Tell An Appraiser?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Just

keep your communication to the appraiser about the facts of the home and neighborhood

, how you priced the house, and any other relevant information you think the appraiser should know. And remember, don’t discuss value. Don’t pressure the appraiser to ‘hit the value’ and you’ll be fine.

What negatively affects home appraisal?

The

age and condition of the home’s HVAC units, appliances, and electrical and plumbing systems

will be considered in the home’s overall appraised value. Obviously, if these components are in bad shape, this will negatively affect the appraisal.

How should I prepare for a home appraisal?

  1. Review previous appraisals. Look for issues that lowered your home’s value in the past and address those problems.
  2. Collect important documents for the appraiser. …
  3. Prepare for the visit. …
  4. Tidy up. …
  5. Invest in curb appeal. …
  6. Make minor repairs.

What do appraisers really look for?

In practical terms, appraisers are looking for

any items that adversely affect the home’s value

, such as needed repairs, soiled carpets and plaster cracks. They also itemize the extra things that make the home desirable such as added insulation, air conditioning or a new roof.

What upgrades to tell appraiser?

  • Loose Floor Boards.
  • Leaky Roof.
  • Functioning Door Bell.
  • Rain Gutters.
  • Replace Bathroom Caulk.
  • Dripping Pipe or Faucet.

Does a messy house affect an appraisal?

“Generally speaking, a messy house with scattered

clothes, toys or belongings does not affect an appraisal

. Appraisers are professionals that have been trained to look past the clutter and assess the true value of the property,” explains Albert Lee, Founder of Home Living Lab.

Do home appraisers look in cabinets?

Do Appraisers Look in Cabinets? In most homes,

the appraiser will have no reason to look in the cabinets

because they do not need to open them to measure living space. However, if there are obvious signs of disrepair, broken hinges, infestation, etc., they might look in cabinets.

How can I get a free home appraisal?


A local real estate agent

As a part of the services provided by a real estate agent, they’ll come to your property and give you a free property appraisal. (This is an estimate of the value of your property). The real estate agent will generally offer this appraisal for free so they can build a relationship with you.

Can I be present during home appraisal?

Yes,

the appraiser will actually visit the house

during the home appraisal process. There is no specific rule that says buyers cannot attend, but the process is typically handled by the appraiser alone. You would have to contact him to see if you can be present when he visits the house.

What adds the most value to a home appraisal?

Your home’s proximity to grocery stores, public transportation, schools, and restaurants affects your appraisal value. In general,

the higher the market value of your location

, the higher your appraisal value.

Do appraisers look in showers?

After all, it’s telling what you can find sometimes when looking in a shower (or under the kitchen or bathroom sinks). Ultimately, it’s

still possible the appraiser caught mostly everything

, so there may be nothing to worry about, though it sounds like the appraiser went a bit too fast and missed some things.

How long does home appraisal take?

In real estate, a home appraisal typically takes

two days to a week to fully complete

. To complete the appraisal process, the mortgage lender must first order and schedule the appraisal, then gather data about the home. Finally, the appraiser needs to review the data to complete the appraisal report.

Do appraisers look under sinks?

If you are

an appraiser, look under the sink to know what is there

. If you are a seller, be aware the appraiser might call for repairs if seeing something like the photo above. It might be worth curing the problem before the appraiser comes (I’m not saying you should hide the issue if you know you have a mold problem).

How do I get the highest appraisal?

  1. Request a Local Appraiser. …
  2. Supply the Appraiser with Comps. …
  3. Highlight the Neighborhood. …
  4. Make High-Impact Renovations. …
  5. Track Home Improvements. …
  6. Clean and Declutter. …
  7. Understand the Market.

Do appraisers know loan amount?

About 92% of the time the appraisal has no impact on the mortgage loan because the

appraised value is the same as

, or higher than, the contract price. … Sometimes the buyer is able to negotiate the price all the way down to the appraised value and sometimes only part way.

How can I maximize my appraisal?

  1. MAKE SURE APPRAISER KNOWS YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. …
  2. PROVIDE YOUR OWN COMPARABLES. …
  3. KNOW WHAT ADDS THE MOST VALUE. …
  4. DOCUMENT YOUR FIX-UPS. …
  5. TALK UP YOUR TOWN. …
  6. DISTINGUISH BETWEEN UPSTAIRS AND DOWNSTAIRS. …
  7. CLEAN UP. …
  8. GIVE THE APPRAISER SOME SPACE.
Ahmed Ali
Author
Ahmed Ali
Ahmed Ali is a financial analyst with over 15 years of experience in the finance industry. He has worked for major banks and investment firms, and has a wealth of knowledge on investing, real estate, and tax planning. Ahmed is also an advocate for financial literacy and education.