So you have scheduled the appointment with the Appraiser to have your home appraised. What should you do prior to the inspection, to maximize your value and possibly save some money as well?

In the days prior to the appraisal inspection, do a home inventory of all the major repairs you made since you bought the home include (copies of receipts if you have them) or your contractors estimates/ canceled checks for major improvements. If you cannot find the paperwork list them down with your best estimate for each.

We recommend you bullet point all of these improvements and repairs on a piece of paper and present it to the appraiser when he/she first walks in. This will assure that the Appraiser does not miss anything and will speed up the appraisal inspection. Get copies of "signed off: permits or contractor estimates of work you have done. The Appraiser will require a copy of a signed off permit for any additions to be credited. Most often than not it does not appear on city records (not updated yet in many cases). If you do not have this at time of inspection the Appraisal can be made "subject to" permits thus causing delays. Or in many cases it is completed "as is" omitting the area altogether and giving this area value as additional storage area as an example.

If you have a copy of your previous appraisal make a copy of the report prior to the inspection and provide it to the Appraiser. If you have done improvements since the appraisal was done make sure you list them as suggested above. 

Do not follow the Appraiser around pointing out every small detail of the home. This is not only distracting but many homeowners unwittingly point out various things they have done to the house that have little or no impact on the overall value. This is a huge time waster for the Appraiser and in most cases will only annoy them.  The Appraiser is not there to buy your home so you do not have to try to sell it to them.

The Appraiser can only address what presently exists and the condition your home is in at the time of inspection. They can address your property "as is" or "subject to" in determining the estimate of value. Do not tell the Appraiser of all of the things you plan/hope/wish to do to your home. In most cases it will have little to no impact in the final value estimate. Save your wish list for your contractor.

Do not worry about not having the laundry done. We are not there to judge your housekeeping; we are only looking at the physical characteristics and condition of your home. However remember that the appraiser will be taking interior photos for the lender as well as for the appraiser's own liability.

Most Appraisers love dogs but place them out of the way or in a kennel or dog run when the appraiser is there.  Muffy may not have bitten anyone in the past but could decide today is the day.  Another reason is muffy may have had nature call and the Appraiser who is focused on measuring the house, etc is now tracking muffy's (you know what) all over your home.

Another no no is watering down your yard and driveway right before the Appraiser inspects your home.  This may make everything look nice, But the appraiser finds him/herself walking thru mud which could be tracked into your home and increasing the possibility of slipping or falling.

If you have security bars on your bedroom windows and they have no safety releases they must be removed. This is not only for your health and safety but the lender will require that they be removed. If they are not removed prior to the inspection, the appraiser must set up a re-inspection which will be an additional cost to you from the appraiser as well as your time and delay of your loan. You could lose a rate lock with the added delay.

Follow these simple suggestions and you will speed up the inspection process, assure nothing is missed, and maximize the appraiser's ability to determine the most accurate estimate of market value of your home.