Getting your home appraised is often a stressful experience. Your property is on full display to be judged and valued so you can continue on the path towards selling your home. However, it doesn’t have to be nerve-racking! With the right tools and tricks, the appraisal can help you make a huge financial leap towards your new home.
1. Do your research.
Do your homework and find out the appraiser’s market knowledge of the area. Ideally, your appraiser will be a local who knows the area well. Don’t forget to make sure they’re state certified.
2. Check your maintenance.
Whether it’s dirty carpet, chipped paint, or a loose shingle, be sure to have it fixed before the appraiser comes. In addition, keep a list of maintenance work that has been done on the home as well as the things you’ve fixed and upgraded.
3. Do some landscaping.
Your house should be the nicest on the block when it’s getting appraised. Landscaping is crucial as far as making a good first impression. Tidy your yard, trim the hedges, and make sure your lawn is green.
4. Make sure your appliances work.
Does your dishwasher run well? Is the refrigerator still sufficiently cold? If any of these big-ticket items malfunction, it could be a huge disadvantage to your home’s appraisal value.
5. Show pride in your home.
Your home isn’t valued on interior decor, but it doesn’t hurt to spruce things up a bit. This doesn’t mean you have to trade in your bargain finds for a pricey makeover, but make sure your home is neat, tidy, and organized.
6. Know your neighborhood.
Make sure you know what comparable nearby homes are going for before you get your home appraised. In addition, let your appraiser know of any unexpected circumstances, like if your neighbor had to sell their home extra quickly for one reason or another. It’s important that both you and your appraiser are knowledgeable about your neighborhood and the local market.
7. Know that cost does not equal value.
When you make home improvements, know that not everything you upgrade will increase your property value. Figure out what the economic investment is, because rate of return is extremely important.
8. If you’re not happy, reach out.
If you’re unhappy with the appraisal value, contact the appraiser about your concerns. Make sure you have solid data to serve as evidence for your claims. You can always get a second appraisal if you think something was done incorrectly.