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There are various things you can do to prepare for a home appraisal. The top ideas to prepare for home appraisals gives you the best possible results on your appraisal. This blog will discuss the top ideas from appraisers to prepare for home apppraisals and give you and idea on what to do to get the best results.
Research local area or neighborhood market data
By preparing for the appraisal, many things can be done ahead of the appraiser’s visit to your home. By getting a general idea of the condition and quality of properties that would compete with your home is a good place to start. It is best to look at the Realtor.com photos of homes similar to yours that will allow you to note anything that might put your home’s value at risk. This may include cosmetic issues , broken fixtures, defective paint surfaces, peeling old wallpaper and many other potential problems that need to be addressed.
Take care of small repairs
You should make those minor repairs that you’ve been postponing till now before the appraiser’s visit to your home. For example, you can repair faulty cabinets, paint touch-ups, leaky faucets, and make other minor repairs. Also, look for any damage that could decrease your home’s value. These small things help the home look better and show the owner has properly taken care of the house. For appraisers, the condition of your home usually matters more than the year it was built.
Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal
You might not be paying much attention to your home’s curb appeal. But your home’s curb appeal matters more than you might think. It matters most to appraisers as well as potential buyers. According to a study, the condition of your home’s exterior and landscaping can increase or decrease its value. Some wise landscaping investments can increase your home’s value by 5% or more. You can plant some small trees, add new hardscape or retaining walls, and replace worn out or dated front doors or just giving the front door a fresh coat of paint can enhance your home’s curb appeal. Futhermore, based on seasonal markets you may also need to freshen up landscape beds, trim bushes, mulch and mow the grass. To sum up, this is necessary to make a good first impression and improve your homes curb appeal to meet your neighborhood standards.
Deep Clean Your Home
Deep cleaning is one of the crucial things to do before a home appraisal. When the appraiser visits your home, your home should be elegant and clean. While giving your home a deep cleaning, tasks like vacuuming, washing floors, and cleaning surfaces should all be on your list. In addition, clean any dirty showers and bathtubs. Also, If you have unpleasant smells from pets, deodorize these areas. If your carpet appears to be dirty or stained it is best practice to steam clean dirty carpet. If your windows are dirty they should be cleaned inside and out. You also may want to power wash your homes exterior vinyl siding , decks, patios and driveway for a fresher look. In conclusion, while cleanliness is not a requirement, it can definitely influence the appraiser’s mind on general upkeep as well as a potential buyers perception of the home.
Smoke Odor
One overlooked issue is cigarette smoke odor. If you smoke inside your home and the smell is strong this will have an impact on many potential buyers and greatly reduce the homes marketability and may impact the price. Some sellers attempt to cover up the smell with Smoke Odor eliminator sprays and carpet freshening powders. Most buyers are suspicious of heavy deodorizer smells. Currently sellers are not required to disclose that a home has housed a smoker, however most appraisers, buyers or home inspectors pick up on the smell. Steam cleaning carpets, washing windows can help however, If you have never had your air ducts cleaned now may be the time. Professional cleaning may be required. There is good additional information on Realtor.com about ridding your home of cigarette smoke smell if this is a problem.
Declutter Your Home
Decluttering your home will increase your homes appeal. You want the appraiser to check every room and be able to assess its size and appeal. While preparing for an appraisal, ensure clear access to all areas within your home. Additionally, removing clutter and distractions can help increase your homes marketability. You need to make sure the overall feeling of the house is welcoming. A brighter and more inviting home can help the appraiser to get an accurate assessment for the home’s condition. You should declutter the bedrooms, kitchen, living room, family room and others. Remember that appraisers will be taking photos of every room as required by Fannie Mae.
Document Your Home Improvement Efforts
You should save all the receipts of the money you have spent on your home. You can create a file or store them on your computer. Additionally, taking before and after photos of the upgrades & improvements will be a great idea. This will help you easily prove to the appraiser what you have done to upgrade your home. As a rule, appraisers look for recent updates within the past 10 years. This includes, Kitchen & Bath updates, HVAC systems, mechanical, new roof, siding, exterior improvements such as a new deck or patio– Etc. Also make sure you have the dates, warranties and permits for major renovations. However, all this may add time to the appraisers visit but its better the get the appraisers visit done right than fast. In conclusion, these important items will enable your appraiser to see the potential value-added features to your home for consideration of your homes condition and quality ratings.
Remember The $500 Rule
When preparing for an appraisal, keep in mind that the condition of your house plays an important role. Therefore, you must ensure that everything, like light fixtures, floors, doors, walls, cabinets and faucets, are in good condition. Do a walkthrough of your home to check if any minor problem needs to be solved ahead of the appraisal. By replacing outdated or worn out hardware on drawers or cabinets and door knobs can create a newer look without the expensive price tag.
Conclusion Summary
When preparing for your home appraisal, keep in mind that everything is well-maintained and not broken or damaged. As you prepare for an appraisal, you must do a complete walkthrough of your home. The outside is the appraiser’s or potential buyers first impression of your home. Thus, the landscape or yard of your home should be well maintained. Additionally, ensure your home’s interior and exterior look good when the appraiser visits your house.
Apart from your home’s interior or exterior, all appliances and equipment should be in good working condition. Further, It cannot be emphasized enough to take time to declutter your home and remove any distractions. A clean, well maintained and organized home looks welcoming and more attractive to appraisers and buyers alike. Read Top Appraisal FAQ’s to learn more about appraisal procedures.