Get Your Home Appraisal Ready: Here’s How
There are few things more stress inducing than getting your home appraised. A huge part of your life is on display, ready to be torn apart. All of the hard work you have put into the home, not to mention the amount of money you have spent to keep it up are going to be judged. That is enough to make anyone feel at least a little uncomfortable but with the right preparation the process can go a lot smoother.
Here are the top 5 things you can do to ensure that you don’t face any surprises when it comes time for the appraisal:
Choose the right appraiser
Just like when you choose a real estate agent, you want to make sure you go with the appraiser who has the most experience with the area in which you live.
Knowing the market is imperative so try to choose someone who is not only an insider on what is happening in the local market but also one who has been around long enough to see how the market has been changing over time.
Also, make sure they are state certified.
Know the neighborhood
While it is expected that your appraiser knows the area, it is a good idea for you to as well. Pay attention to the homes that are selling in your neighborhood and how much they have been selling for. This is going to be the main predictor of what you will be able to sell your home for.
Understand that cost does not always equal value
You spent a fortune adding things you wanted to your home but that does not always equal a higher asking price.
For example, let’s say you put in a pool that cost you $25,000. You are not going to be able to add the whole amount of that upgrade to the asking price of the home. Rather, you will be able to add only a portion of what you spent. This might feel like a rip-off but that is just the way the market operates.
Make sure appliances are in working order
Appraiser don’t just look at the bones of the home, they take in the whole package. That is why it is so important that you take care of the little things as well as the larger ones. For example, the appraisal doesn’t end with things like the roof, they also look at your appliances.
You need to make sure that everything is in working order otherwise you will see your home appraisal value drop.
Make the most of curb appeal
Do your best to make sure your yard outshines those of your neighbors. Appraisals don’t begin and end indoors, the outside of your home plays just as important a factor. If you think about it, the first thing people see is your landscaping, long before they ever step foot inside of the home and you know the saying, first impressions are the most important impressions of all.
Follow these tips before you have an appraiser come in and your home will be ready for the appraiser’s inspection.