How to Prepare for a Home Appraisal

Homeowners always ask me if there is anything they need to do to prepare for a home appraisal.

Here are a few quick tips that will make a the process go much smoother for you.

#1 – Your home does not need to be spotless or professionally cleaned.

It’s totally normal for your teenager’s room to be an experience, or your toddler’s toys to be strewn, or your pet’s bone to be in the middle of the floor, or your work papers to be spread all over your dining room table, or dinner to be cooking on the stove…. this is daily living.

But, the need to navigate an obstacle course of items that appear as though they haven’t been moved in years does make me wonder about the maintenance of the house.

And, if the holiday passed 8 months ago and the decorations are still up, gathering dust, then it does cause me to pause a moment and take an even closer look at the general upkeep of the windows, doors, walls, floors, ceilings, etc.

#2 – Info about your property.

I absolutely love when the homeowner or the realtor hands me any info that will help me to have a better understanding of your home and the improvements that you have recently completed.

Receipts are not necessary but a general list of what was updated, renovated or replaced and the year of completion is really helpful.

Here’s a free downloadable guide outlining the important list of items you’ll want to give to the Appraiser.

#3 – Be prepared for the appraiser to take lots and lots of photos. I do this for several reasons:

Some clients require photos of every single detail. Also, I want to be sure that I am able to further support my statements of any items that I mention in the report that will affect value.

Gentle reminder: Many clients do not permit people in the photos, including myself. Mirrors are always a fun challenge! So, in order to help us be sure that we do not catch you in our photo it’s a good idea to not be in the same room as the appraiser.

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#4 – If you know about a recent sale in your neighborhood please tell me about it.

Odds are that I will probably already know about it. But in the off chance that I missed it or perhaps it was a private sale I would rather you let me know about asap. So, providing a list of sales to the appraiser is a good idea, especially if your house sells for higher than list price. I always ask the realtors to send me this info when I am setting the appointment. It helps the process move along much smoother and quicker when all of the info is provided ahead of time.

#5 – Pets – I absolutely love them.

But, it’s their home and dogs can be protective or extra special playful. If you have a dog that is nervous around strangers or likes to greet people by jumping on them – please put them in a crate or take them for a walk while the appraiser is in your home.

Locking them in a room or in the yard often doesn’t work so well since we have to go into every room and also walk around the entire outside of your home.

#6 – Please, warn us

If there is snow on the ground and you have a pond or a pool or anything that could be dangerous to accidentally walk on – please warn us.

#7 – Peekaboo

And my favorite….We need to see every room in the house. Soooo, 5 minutes before the appraiser arrives is a terrible time to jump in the shower…. we need to see every room, not every thing 😉

Hopefully this was helpful and a little entertaining…. yes, these suggestions all come from personal experiences and near misses.

This post is all about how to prepare for a home appraisal.

Do you know what you call those who use towels and never wash them, eat meals and never do the dishes, sit in rooms they never clean, and are entertained till they drop? If you have just answered, ‘A house guest,’ you’re wrong because I have just described my kids. 

Erma Bombeck