#Residential home appraisal checklist professional
#Residential home appraisal checklist free

The house needs to be structurally sound and have a quality roof that is free of holes and leaks. The first step is to evaluate the exterior of the house to make sure it is in good condition. Here are three things your home appraiser checks for. Then, during the appointment, they will evaluate the condition of the home to confirm the fair market value. This will provide them with a range of values that your home will likely fall into. They want to see similar homes that match the size and location of your house. This will give you a clear idea of what the appraiser is looking for before they make their report.īefore the home appraiser even visits your property, they will look at comparable properties. One of the best ways to prepare for your appointment is to get a feel for the appraisal process. This is only for a few hours until the home appraisal is complete. Even a normally calm animal could bite the appraiser or real estate agent if they feel nervous.Ĭonsider taking your dog to the park during the appraisal or schedule a sitter to watch your pets at their house, not yours. Someone could leave a door open and your pet could escape. Plus, pets can create odors that undo all of your hard cleaning work.Įven if your appraiser or buyers love your pets, keeping them in your home is a liability. Not everyone loves animals and many people have allergies to dogs and cats. Secure PetsĪhead of the appointment, make sure you have a plan for where your pets will be during the appraisal process. It will also reduce the number of distractions so buyers focus on the structure of the home. This will create more open space in your house and make it seem bigger.

#Residential home appraisal checklist professional

Professional cleaners can deep clean each room and prepare it for a showing or inspection.Īlso, make sure you declutter ahead of an appraisal. You can build this expense into the appraisal cost if you need to refinance or consider the cleaning fee part of the costs that come with selling your home. Clean houses seem bigger, which can help the appraisal and make buyers more willing to accept your listing price because of the perceived value of the property.Ĭonsider scheduling a cleaning service to arrive the day before your appraisal. Clean houses create positive first impressions and are more appealing to buyers – which can lead to more bids and offers that arrive sooner. Tidy Up Your HomeĮven if your house is in good condition, cleaning the property is a key aspect of your home appraisal checklist. Experts estimate that well-maintained homes sell for 10% more than properties in need of repairs. When done well, these repairs can pay off. Improved curb appeal can attract buyers by creating positive first impressions while also increasing the appraised value of the property. One major expense that homeowners turn to is landscaping. The process to complete these projects can last a few weeks. These repairs often include roof replacements, electrical upgrades, and new appliance investments. Oftentimes, homeowners will try to make repairs ahead of time so they don’t receive a lower appraisal due to poor property conditions. If a house has several broken fixtures, worn-out appliances, and other problems, then its value decreases. The condition of the house will impact its value.

Sellers usually spend around $5,400 to fix up their homes before listing them in order to secure favorable values. This is the most time-consuming part of the home appraisal checklist. The next step is to decide which repairs you want to make to your home. If you can secure multiple estimates (at least three), you can get a fair idea of your home’s value before the appraiser arrives. These agents can evaluate your home using their personal experience and provide a value estimate. The next step is to talk with real estate agents. Essentially, they will look at similar homes that have recently sold within your area. These apps will ask for your address, square footage, and other features to run a comparative market analysis on your property.

There are multiple ways to get a home value estimate depending on the time and resources you have. This can prepare you for the appraisal report and help you decide which improvements you want to make ahead of the inspection. Get a Home Value Estimateīefore the appraiser arrives, it helps to have an estimated idea of what your property is worth. Use this checklist to prepare for the appraiser to visit your home, whether the appointment is within a few weeks or a couple of hours. This benefits both the buyer and the seller by keeping the process moving so they can reach the closing date on time. However, many home offers from buyers come with limited timelines to schedule appraisal appointments. Some homeowners prepare for several weeks for a home appraisal to make sure their house is in the best condition possible. Preparing for a Home Appraisal: Complete Checklist