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Do homeowners have control over an appraisal? It depends on how much time, effort, and money they are willing to invest.
Most home appraisers use standardized forms, and some items on these forms are out of the homeowner’s control, such as the size of the lot, the square footage, and the recent sale prices of similar homes.
However, some things can be put right before the home appraisal:
- Fix holes in walls and apply fresh paint.
- Make sure appliances work and are leak-free.
- Make sure all light fixtures work. If not, consider replacing.
- Make sure rain gutters work.
- Fix any roof leaks, and seal and paint any stained ceilings.
- Make a list of all renovations, including any new appliances.
- Consider an exterior paint job.
Appraisers inspect a property in terms of quality workmanship, general condition, and the value of similar properties. Here are some common inspection items.
Outdoors
Outside, the inspector looks at the general quality of home-building, such as the quality of the foundation, the roof, the gutters and downspouts and the siding — especially the quality of the siding material. In addition, the appraiser evaluates the windows and the exterior paint. All of these areas are susceptible to cracks or other damage, and the appraiser notes all irregularities.
Some of these items are intrinsic to the home’s construction. For example, custom homes often feature higher quality materials than tract homes, and prefabricated homes are far less likely to score well.
The square footage of the home, or Gross Living Area (GLA) is also measured from outside. While a garage and a finished basement will count towards the home’s value, they are not factored into the GLA.
Indoors
Before the appraiser evaluates amenities, he or she examines the basics. Is the heating and cooling system up-to-date and functioning? Does the plumbing work? To determine quality of products and workmanship, the appraiser evaluates the roof from the inside as well as the interior walls.
Next the appraiser looks for flaws, like holes in walls. The appraiser ignores any appliances that usually move with the homeowner but scrutinizes those that stay with the home, such as a dishwasher. Floors, carpeting, and lighting are also evaluated at this point.
Finally, appraisers evaluate modernization. If the home is woefully out of date, its value is negatively impacted. However, recent renovations are a plus, especially if the homeowner supplies documentation.
It is definitely worth a homeowner’s time to inspect the home with critical eyes prior to an appraisal and make a few changes to improve the outcome.
Sam often writes real estate and the home buying process. He works for a company that provides an excellent source for court documents and other online public records.
