During a home appraisal, a licensed appraiser conducts a thorough inspection of the property. These factors include the condition of the property, any upgrades or additions made to the property, the size of the lot and “comps” or recently sold properties of comparable size and condition in the same market.

What is considered in an appraisal?

A home appraisal is an unbiased estimate of the true (or fair market) value of what a home is worth. The appraisal can include recent sales information for similar properties, the current condition of the property, and the location of the property, i.e., insight as to how the neighborhood impacts the property’s value.

What negatively affects home appraisal?

The age and condition of the home’s HVAC units, appliances, and electrical and plumbing systems will be considered in the home’s overall appraised value. Obviously, if these components are in bad shape, this will negatively affect the appraisal.

How should I prepare for a home appraisal?

How to prepare for a home appraisal

1. Review previous appraisals. Look for issues that lowered your home’s value in the past and address those problems.
2. Collect important documents for the appraiser.
3. Prepare for the visit.
4. Tidy up.
5. Invest in curb appeal.
6. Make minor repairs.

What things do appraisers look at?

Appraisers look at the size, shape and topography of the lot, including easements and encroachments. The appraiser will also note amenities such as street utilities and vehicular access. Part of the evaluation process includes an opinion of whether the home’s characteristics are compatible with the market.

What should you not say to an appraiser?

In his post, he lists 10 things as a Realtor (or even homeowner), you should avoid saying to the appraiser:

• I’ll be happy as long as it appraises for at least the sales price.
• Do your best to get the value as high as possible.
• The market has been “on fire”.
• Is it going to come in at “value”?

Does yard affect appraisal?

Landscaping can also significantly impact property values. When valuing a home, the appraiser must look at the subject property’s landscaping compared to other properties in the area. Landscaping accounts for 85 percent of what buyers first see when looking at a home.

What upgrades to tell appraiser?

5. Keep a List of Repairs and Upgrades

• Loose Floor Boards.
• Leaky Roof.
• Functioning Door Bell.
• Rain Gutters.
• Replace Bathroom Caulk.
• Dripping Pipe or Faucet.

Do appraisers look in garage?

Do Appraisers Look in Garage? Yes, they sure do! They are mostly looking for size, condition, and function — not how well you organize your tools.

What decreases home appraisal?

Location decreases a home’s appraisal value the most. This occurs due to the fact that most homes appraise within 20 percent of similar homes in the area.

Do appliances affect appraisal?

Interior — The layout of the home, total square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, appliances, and the materials and condition of all interior surfaces will be evaluated. Any non-functional appliances, lighting, electrical outlets or plumbing fixtures detract from the appraisal value.

Do appraisers turn on faucets?

Appraisers flush toilets, turn on all faucets and ensure that both hot and cold water are working.

What adds the most value to a home appraisal?

The quickest, easiest way to increase your chances of a higher appraisal is to paint, which can take years off an outdated home. If there are crayon marks on your walls and clutter on the floors, a fresh coat of paint and some simple organizing will make a good impression when an appraiser visits.

Do appraisers look in closets?

Appraisers are looking in your closets not to evaluate storage space but because they can sometimes count the closet towards square footage. Depending on how much notice you have of the appraiser’s visit, you might have time to complete some unfinished projects.

Do appraisers look under sinks?

If you are an appraiser, look under the sink to know what is there. If you are a seller, be aware the appraiser might call for repairs if seeing something like the photo above. It might be worth curing the problem before the appraiser comes (I’m not saying you should hide the issue if you know you have a mold problem).

How long does home appraisal take?

In real estate, a home appraisal typically takes two days to a week to fully complete. To complete the appraisal process, the mortgage lender must first order and schedule the appraisal, then gather data about the home. Finally, the appraiser needs to review the data to complete the appraisal report.