5 Basic Tips To Ensure Your Appraisal Goes Well
5 Simple Tips To Help Your Home Appraisal
Samuel Johnson is quoted saying:
“Depend upon it, sir, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully”.
Similarly, homeowners could apply an equivalently wry modern version to real estate appraisal.
A home seller might say something like:
“Depend upon it, sir, nothing clears a home seller’s mind like knowing the real estate appraiser is coming in a fortnight”.
We would like to dispute that thought—when the appraiser is scheduled, there is really not much to worry about. There are measures that can be taken to lower stress and anxiety levels. Here are just a few simple ideas to keep in mind when “The Appraiser” is scheduled to make a visit. This is an easy to follow list for the homeowner. A good Realtor® will be invaluable with additional tips to ensure a satisfactory appraisal.
1. Be Considerate.
The job of the appraiser is partially physical. So any consideration you give to his/her comfort will be greatly appreciated, and maybe rewarded (Certainly not punished). Check for any barriers or obstacles that may impede his/her path. Ensure also that all rooms are properly heated or cooled. A sweaty appraiser is not a happy appraiser. And an unhappy appraiser is not a good thing…
2. Your Appraisal Is Not a Showing Appointment.
Appraisers will be focusing more on the physical details of the home such as square footage, structure and mechanical features. With that in mind it’s still not a bad idea to get your house in order. Even though the appraiser is not there to buy the house, we still want to sell it to them. What I mean by that is we want the appraiser to feel like this house is different than the other homes that sold in the neighborhood (by different I mean better). We don’t need a totally clutter-free show stopper, but the house must be presentable. Appraisers won’t be buying your house anytime soon, but they must buy the vision.
3. Organize Your Paperwork.
If available, it’s a good idea to dig up floor plans, location plats, surveys, permits and warranties etc. Although age is important, recent updates and upgrades are equally important in increasing the appraised value. Prepare a line item list of improvements, being sure to include the year the improvement was completed, and the cost. Believe it or not appraisers want your house to appraise at full purchase price. Everything we do to help them achieve this goal as easily as possible, the more likely we are to receive a satisfactory report.
4. Curb Appeal Still Matters.
I can’t tell you how many times we’ve met the appraiser at the property and the appraiser has complimented the curb appeal. We just discussed that appraisals are not showing appointments and the appraiser is not there to make an offer to purchase your property. But nobody can resist the “first impression” effect. It’s more of a feeling or emotion than it is a reaction. Property condition is a consideration in every appraisal, so it’s a worthwhile endeavor to maintain your front lawn. At the very least, before the appraiser arrives the front lawn is freshly cut and all of the plants are trimmed and looking their best. If there is any area in the front that needs a fresh coat of paint, it is well worth the time to make a great “first impression”.
5. No News Is Good News.
Any positive changes in the neighborhood would be a plus for the appraiser. Politely remind the appraiser of any new developments that make the area more desirable. Similarly this is not the time to discuss the freeway they’re planning behind your house. Even if your city, like our great City of Coral Springs is be experiencing rising home prices, appraisers won’t speculate on “future” values. However, providing some constructive neighborhood developments can certainly be influential to the appraiser’s conclusions. Appraisers are human after all.
One final “nothing clears the mind” quote. By me: “Nothing clears the mind like buying real estate”. This quote is not as depressing as the first quote by Samuel Johnson, and it’s absolutely true. If you’re on your own house hunt, we hope you’ll give us a call to assist you in focusing your search. And if you’re preparing to sell your house, especially in Coral Springs or Broward County, (which adds you to the soon-to-be-visited-by-the-appraiser category) the same applies. Don’t hesitate to call us. And if you have a friend that would benefit from this information please feel free to share.
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