If you’re selling, refinancing, or navigating a home equity process, an appraisal is a must. While appraisers are trained to remain unbiased and follow strict guidelines, there are some steps you can take as a homeowner to prepare for a home appraisal — and help ensure the that your home is presented in the best light.
Getting Ready For A Home Appraisal
Let’s dive into some things you can do to prepare for your home’s appraisal and boost property value long term.
Accessibility & Presentation
When appraisal day arrives, accessibility is the top priority. Your appraiser needs to have a clear view of the various rooms, structure, and condition of the property. If a room is inaccessible, it could delay the process and potentially increase the cost of your appraisal.
While your house doesn’t need to be spotless, it should be free of clutter that might hinder access or hide key features.
“You don’t need to have your home professionally cleaned, but make sure no room remains a mystery,” said Ryan DeLeon, Lead Appraiser at Akrivis. “For example, a lender will often require the appraiser to return if there was a room or building that was locked and not able to be viewed.”
Here’s a quick pre-appraisal checklist:
- Unlock all rooms, closets, and outbuildings.
- Pick up or store items as needed to minimize clutter.
- Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and install them where needed.
- Complete minor repairs such as fixing leaky faucets, loose railings, or broken door handles.
- Tackle yard care to minimize snow, grass, shrubs, or trees that may impact visibility.
Try to avoid scheduling your appraisal while you’re doing ongoing renovations or repairs. Incomplete work can impact the evaluation and delay results.
Sharing Information with the Appraiser
Appraisers must maintain objectivity, so it’s important to find balance between sharing necessary information without influencing their work.
“Avoid telling the appraiser any expectations regarding value as that could result in the appraiser not being able to complete the assignment as they must remain unbiased,” Ryan said.
However, you can and should provide factual information that helps paint a full picture of your home’s value, including:
- A list of updates or renovations and the dates they were completed.
- Any unique features of the home that might not be immediately obvious.
- Details about neighborhood improvements or amenities that could impact desirability.
Long-Term Considerations: What Actually Affects Value?
Preparing for an appraisal starts long before you actually schedule it. Many homeowners invest and update their property in homes of increasing value. But not all investments pay off.
It’s common for homeowners to invest in improvements they assume will increase value—like a new driveway—only to discover buyers aren’t willing to pay much extra for them. Buyers often view driveways, roofs, HVAC systems, and siding as basic maintenance and just expect them to be in good, functional condition.
“Now, if any of those items are in need of repair or replacement, it can hurt the value of the property, but being functional basically brings it back to base level buyer expectations,” Ryan said
Modern Features
If you’re planning updates or renovations before selling your home, we recommend that you prioritize the features that buyers tend to value most. Those features tend to include:
- Remodeled kitchens and bathrooms
- Updated flooring
- Modern finishes and fixtures
These areas are visible and resonate emotionally with buyers, which creates a stronger impression and higher perceived value.
Less common features and upgrades, like pools or solar panels, may seem cool and serve your family well, but they might not yield significant returns. They fall outside what typical buyers in your market probably expect.
“Buyers will look at them as bonuses and will be less likely to pay a premium,” Ryan said.
Market Conditions
Ultimately, you have to factor in market conditions and the state of the real estate market. Like it or not, these external factors will have a major impact on the value of your home.
“In a strong sellers market, you can often come out ahead selling as-is and making no improvements because there is such strong demand for homes,” Ryan said. “Whereas in a strong buyers market you may need to give in to buyers’ demands to make multiple repairs just to get a property sold that is in otherwise good condition.”
Work with Akrivis for an Accurate Appraisal
Appraisals are about objective market value, not the sum of every dollar spent on your home. Preparing thoughtfully for the appraisal, making smart upgrades, and understanding what buyers actually care about can make a big difference.
If you’re looking for a real estate appraisal, we can help. Akrivis provides evaluations and hybrid appraisals for residential and commercial properties nationwide. We’ll get you an accurate value in as little as five business days.