Preparing for an Appraisal

  Preparing for an Appraisal

There are some things you can do to prepare for an appraisal and to help ensure that your home appraisal goes as smoothly as possible, including:
Make a list of improvements and the cost of each to give to the appraiser.

All rooms, including the garage and attic, should be accessible.

Remove or crate all pets.

Be sure your home is the most inviting it has ever been – inside and out.  Clean and spruce as if your most important house guest or most important buyer is coming to visit.

Important: Leave the appraiser alone to do his job.  Give him or her the list of improvements and then vanish!   The appraiser can’t concentrate on the value of your home if you are talking to him/her and doesn’t like agents or owners trying to influence them in any way - even if you are just trying to be helpful.  If you engage in unnecessary conversation, the appraiser could actually overlook something of value.  He or she knows what they are looking for, so it's best to leave them to it.

See The Top 10 Things to do to Prepare for an Appraisal by Michael S. Bolton, MN Appraiser.