| Whether they are buying or selling a home, there will | | | | them to see the space. They are measuring the |
| come a time when a person needs to enlist the | | | | property and the home, not its contents. You may |
| services of a house appraisal. The home appraiser will | | | | want to make a good impression by having an |
| come to the home and assess its market value so | | | | orderly home, but having a cleaned up home |
| that the lender or the seller can find out the worth | | | | won’t get you a better appraisal figure. |
| of a home to meet their needs. If you are the home | | | | Listing Your Improvements |
| owner whose home needs to be appraised, | | | | To boost your home value during a house appraisal, |
| here’s what you need to know about getting | | | | home owners often believe they need to point out all |
| your home ready for the appraiser’s visit. | | | | of the repairs and improvements they have made to |
| Typical Length of an Appraisal | | | | the home. That isn’t needed. Appraisers are |
| A house appraisal isn’t something that is going to | | | | trained professionals who will certainly notice repairs |
| take up your whole day. In fact, many house | | | | and improvements. If they do miss anything, you |
| appraisals only take a few minutes to complete, | | | | may want to point it out, like new heating and |
| although this can change depending on the size of | | | | cooling system. |
| the property. More property, more time. The | | | | You should also be prepared to answer questions |
| appraiser is going to walk along the outside of your | | | | that the appraisers may have while they are looking |
| property and measure the square footage. This gives | | | | at your home. If you aren’t sure about repairs, |
| them a real measurement of how big the property | | | | have someone present who does have those |
| may be. Then they will look around the inside, | | | | answers for the appraiser. |
| checking on how the features take up space and | | | | The house appraisal process is much more passive |
| what, if any, renovations have been done to the | | | | than might be assumed. The home appraiser will |
| home’s structure. | | | | come in, look around, measure and then leave. After |
| Cleaning Up Around the House | | | | they leave, they will also check on the market in |
| The home appraiser doesn’t care how clean the | | | | your neighborhood and write up a detailed report. |
| home is kept, unless it makes it easier or harder for | | | | |