Here are four strategies to make sure you get the best appraisal.

Want to buy a home? Search All Homes
Looking to sell your home? Receive a Home Value Report

A bad appraisal can be really stressful at its best and a deal killer at its worst. Here are four simple strategies to be proactive and make sure that you get the best appraisal possible:

1. Plan to meet the appraiser. Unlike showing a home to a prospective buyer where you're trying to elicit an emotional response, you want to be there for the appraiser to answer any questions and ensure that the appraiser has all of the information necessary to perform an accurate appraisal. There may be inaccuracies in their reporting that you could help correct.

2. Prepare the house. Although it shouldn’t matter if your lawn is mowed or if the house is a mess, it still pays to make a good impression. Your home should be tidy, free of clutter, and easy for the appraiser to inspect. Ultimately, you're still trying to sell the appraiser on your home’s value and a poorly maintained house can give off the impression that there's deferred maintenance or the house isn’t taken care of. You want to show the house in the best light possible.

3. Know what the appraisers are looking for. Be ready with some helpful documentation and information. Appraisers are primarily interested in a home’s condition/age, total room count, square footage, and the functionality of the layout. Be prepared to provide the appraiser with: 

• Set of plans and Land Survey. 

• List of major improvements or upgrades and invoices for the work.

• Any incorrect tax records. 

• Age of HVAC units, water heaters, roof, etc. 

”You want to show the house in the best light possible.”

4. Are there any special circumstances of the sale? Even though the appraiser will get a copy of the purchase and sale agreement, there may be some things that they are not aware of. Let them know if there were multiple offers or concessions made. Those are the important things that you can do to be proactive and make sure that you get a good appraisal.

In our next discussion, I’ll talk about what to do if you actually get a low/bad appraisal. If you have any questions in the meantime, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.