Tips to Prepare for a Home Appraisal

When it comes to home appraisal tips, take the time to review what moves will have the most impact. An appraisal occurs when a property is evaluated and a monetary value is set by an independent analyst, called an appraiser. Home appraisals also take into account the area where the property is located and the value of similar property in the neighborhood.

Two Weeks Before An Appraisal
Pull together a list of all the major repairs and upgrades that the home has. For example, if you replaced the roof a few years ago, make a note of that. Other key upkeeps are new water heaters, replaced windows and upgraded HVAC systems.
Add valuable features to the home and property. It's not necessary to do an extensive remodel, but investing a few hundred dollars in things like bathroom fixtures, storage shelves in the garage and newly planted trees can all add up to a higher appraisal.
Take care of all the small things wrong with the home, such as burned-out light bulbs, broken front steps, sticky sliding glass doors and smoke detectors without batteries.

One Week Before An Appraisal
Get the inside of the home in as good a shape as possible, including a fresh coat of neutral-colored paint. Other ideas for sprucing up the home include professional carpet cleaning, window washing and hiring a professional cleaning crew.
Don't ignore the outside of the home, either. Clean up all the landscaping so that it is visually appealing. Add to the landscaping, if possible, such as extending the patio or deck with paving stones, planting flowers in beds or pots or even cleaning up cluttered, junky areas of the property.
Simplify the look and layout of furniture and storage inside the home. If you have too much furniture crowded in one room, rearrange and even remove pieces so the room looks bigger and more spacious.
Clean cluttered shelves, and replace stuff with a few simple ornamental pieces. Giving the illusion of more space and clean and simple lines makes a room look bigger and feel more spacious.

The Day Before The Appraisal
Clean the house completely, with no room left undone. Look for cobwebs in high corners, dust light fixtures, sweep and mop floors and take out the garbage.
Place some potted flowers near the entrance of the home (proper weather allowing) to enhance the "curb" appeal.
Ensure the house smells good, either with a scented candle, air freshener or even freshly baked brownies.
Use the tips above and give your home the best chance to shine during its next appraisal. Now more than ever with the strict guidelines and regulations that lenders have, an appraisal can make or break a sale!