Preparing Your House For A Home Appraisal

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How to Prepare Your House for a Home Appraisal

If you’re a homeowner or plan to become one, you’ll likely need to get a home appraisal at some point in your lifetime. A home appraisal is a crucial part of any type of real estate transaction. Unlike the fair market value of a house, which is much more volatile and based on market conditions, the appraised value is a professional assessment of a home's condition and worth.

When it comes time to get a house appraised, people often have a few questions about the preparation process. They’ll usually ask questions like, “Does cleanliness affect a home appraisal?” or “What are some things that can hurt a house appraisal?”

It's important to prepare properly for a home appraisal beforehand. Without proper planning and preparation, you could risk losing valuable time and money.

Let's discuss a few things you'll need to know when preparing for a home appraisal.

preparing your house for a home appraisal

What does an appraiser do?

Before discussing the proper house preparations you should make when having your home appraised, you should first understand exactly what the appraiser's job entails.

A home appraiser is a trained, state-licensed professional qualified by the IRS who determines a property's value. Their primary role is to conduct a thorough assessment of a property to provide an accurate valuation of its worth.

Their assessment provides a reliable appraised property value in the local market, which is essential for real estate transactions, mortgage financing, property taxation and insurance.

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What do home appraisers look for?

When preparing for a home appraisal, homeowners should be aware of the primary factors and features an appraiser will look at. Appraisers assess the overall condition of the house, its location, age, property size, and any home improvements or additions.

To ensure fairness and accuracy, appraisers follow a set of uniform standards known as the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). The document promotes consistency and prevents bias.

During a home appraisal, a licensed appraiser will examine the following:

The home's interior.

This includes its structure, layout, wear and tear, and the overall maintenance of the ceilings, floors, walls, windows, fixtures, amenities, cooling and heating systems, and possibly a few more relevant features. They'll also check any safety equipment, such as smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms.

The home's exterior.

This includes the structure, layout, foundation, wear and tear, and the overall maintenance of the roof, siding, garage, walkways, gutter systems, porches, decks, and more.

The home's curb appeal.

A study published in The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics from the University of Texas at Arlington found that a property's curb appeal can influence up to 7% of its home’s appraisal value. Features like house paint, landscaping, driveways, lighting fixtures, and other exterior features can either positively impact or negatively affect the appraisal value, depending on how well they're maintained.

While examining these features, your appraiser will ensure the house is structurally sound, assess any recent improvements, and evaluate any damages or safety hazards.

What negatively affects a home appraisal value?

You might be surprised to learn that appraisers often discover multiple red flags you might be overlooking in your house. The following are some factors that can negatively affect the appraisal value of your home:

  • Foundation cracks or damage
  • Roof damage and leaks
  • Crawlspace mold, moisture or dampness
  • Rotting wood on the exterior siding, trim, deck, etc.
  • Damaged handrails and guardrails
  • Termite infestation or indications of termite activity
  • Outdated appliances or appliances that aren't working properly, like ovens or HVAC units
  • Chipping, flaking and peeling paint, particularly in houses constructed before 1978
  • Any other safety or environmental risks
  • Poor curb appeal, including poorly maintained lawns that can affect the home's structure or foundation, damaged yard fixtures, and other unsightly outdoor house features
does cleanliness affect a home appraisal

Does cleanliness affect a home appraisal?

The short answer to this question is: yes and no. No, a messy home won't directly affect its value, but it can definitely hinder the appraiser's ability to accurately assess the property. Though appraisers are trained to remain unbiased, an overly messy and unkept house might cause concern for its overall maintenance and condition as it could signal neglect and hide additional issues.

That being said, it's important to keep the following keynotes in mind:

  • Appraisers are trained to overlook dirty dishes, messy bedrooms and bathrooms, and signs of everyday living in a house. However, neglect like mold, peeling paint, and extreme clutter can impact the home's value.
  • A messy house can be distracting and can impede the appraisal progress. Cleaning up any extra clutter before an appraisal is always in your best interest.
  • Cleaning up your yard will help your home's curb appeal, which is assessed in an appraisal value. This includes mowing the lawn, trimming overgrown tree branches and putting away yard furniture that can get in the way of the appraiser.
  • If your house is so messy that it causes concern for its overall maintenance, it can negatively impact the appraisal. This can lead to a more extensive analysis and cost you more time and money.

A clean, well-maintained house is always the best state for presenting your home to an appraiser. It will always put your house in a better position for assessment and create a smoother appraisal process.

Home appraisal tips: How to prepare for a home appraisal

Your first home appraisal can be intimidating, especially if you have no idea how to prepare for the process properly. Luckily, licensed appraisers often have a few recommendations and tips to help you best prepare for an appraisal and possibly get a higher appraisal value. These include:

  • Clean and declutter
  • Repair roof damages
  • Fix damaged gutters
  • Check safety equipment
  • Replace old appliances and safety equipment
  • Repaint the house (or just parts of the house with old or chipping paint)
  • Clean windows
  • Refresh the landscaping
  • Power wash driveways and walkways
  • Update lighting fixtures
  • Conduct minor repairs as needed
  • Home additions, renovations and updates
  • Investigate comps (similar homes in your surrounding area)

So, is your home ready for a home appraisal?

Preparing for home appraisals doesn't have to be a stressful task. Implementing the tips and information discussed should help you have a smooth appraisal process. If you still have questions about prepping your house for an appraisal, don't hesitate to reach out to a qualified appraiser with your questions.

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Appreeze provides remote inspections conducted by qualified appraisers with experience completing hundreds of appraisals in Florida. They use new technology to conduct official GPS-authenticated, appraiser-directed video appraisals.

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