What to Do Before a Home Appraiser Arrives

Normally, house appraisals are done as part of the home loan or mortgage process. The purpose of an appraisal is to determine the market value of the home. Many things are taken into account, such as the condition of the home, the neighborhood and what similar homes in the area have sold for. You don't have control over the neighborhood or what similar homes have sold for--but you do have control over the condition of your home and how well it looks to the appraiser.

Exterior

Having your home appraised is important to your finances, so prepare your home as if you were putting it up for sale. The exterior should look clean and well maintained so that you receive the highest appraisal possible for your type of home and its location. First impressions are a must. In the real estate business, "first impressions" are known as curb appeal. It is how a home presents itself when an appraiser or a potential buyer sees the house for the first time. In other words, when an appraiser or potential buyer pulls up in front of your home, he should be attracted to your home before he even gets out of the car. Curb appeal speaks volumes as to how an appraiser expects the interior to look as well; he will assume that not only do you take care of the exterior of your home, but you also take care of the interior.

Make sure your landscaping is free of unsightly weeds, and that bushes, shrubs and trees are trimmed. The building itself should be well maintained, which means no broken windows, peeling paint, broken exterior lights or clutter blocking the entrance or driveway. If you have kept your home in good condition, you won't have to do any major work before an appraisal. If you haven't been maintaining your home, you will have to paint and do any necessary repairs to the exterior before having your home appraised.

Interior

The interior of your home should also be clean and in good condition. Walls should be painted, carpeting clean and clutter removed. Again, if you have let your house go, you have work to do before having an appraisal--such as painting the walls, cleaning the carpeting and tidying your rooms. Bathrooms should also be clean with no signs of clutter.

If you have a basement, make sure that it is organized and presentable. Also, don't forget the garage and the deck or patio. All of these spaces should be clean and organized if you want your home to get high marks on the appraisal.

Improvements and Additions

The appraiser will be interested in any repairs, improvements or additions you have made to your home. Repairs or improvements might include things such as a new roof, deck or driveway, new carpeting or hardwood flooring. Or maybe you remodeled the kitchen and bathroom. These changes add value to your home. So before the appraiser comes, sit down and make a list of improvements or additions as well as the cost of these repairs or upgrades.