Before an appraiser arrives, there are a few things you should know to help facilitate the appraisal process.

It can be beneficial to have these documents ready for the appraiser:

• A plot plan or survey of the house and land

• Written property agreements, such as a maintenance agreement for a shared driveway.

• Title policy that describes encroachments or easements

• Brag sheet that lists major home improvements and upgrades, the date of their installation and their cost (for example, the addition of central air conditioning or roof repairs) and permit confirmation (if available)

Accessibility - Make sure that all areas of the home are accessible, especially the attic and crawl space

 

Housekeeping - Appraisers see hundreds of homes a year and will look past most clutter, but they're human beings too! A good impression can translate into a higher home value

 

Maintenance - Repair minor things like leaky faucets, missing door handles and trim

 

Appraisers have a given timeframe for completing an appraisal, usually up to two weeks. Remember, the appraisal itself belongs to the lender that requested the appraisal. The buyer is given a copy but unless the value is less than the sales price, the seller will most likely not receive a copy. This is good news because it means your home is worth at least what the buyer is paying for it…and you can move on to your goal!