#RESIDENTIAL HOME APPRAISAL CHECKLIST PROFESSIONAL#

We’ve explained 18 things that will hurt your home appraisal most:ġ. Beyond proximity factors, appraisers consider the age, features and curb appeal when calculating what your house is worth. What Hurts a Home Appraisal?Ī home appraisal is primarily based on the condition of your home relative to similar homes in your neighborhood and what they sell for. Now that we’ve established that a tidy closet won’t raise your home value let’s look at what hurts a home appraisal the most. So while a clean, organized closet is a sign of respect for the appraiser (and a lot more pleasant to look at), a messy closet won’t negatively affect home value. The short answer is yes, they will look in your closet… but only to determine the total living area. So does the garage door work? Is the concrete cracking? They look for major things like that. Yes, they sure do! They are mostly looking for size, condition, and function - not how well you organize your tools.

In some cases, VA appraisers will require that you fix certain things like a bad paint job before approving the appraisal. Paint is more likely to be a factor with a VA appraiser. If the paint is chipping, you have unsightly wallpaper, rooms are half-painted, or you’ve painted over a poorly patched hole, these things could hurt your home appraisal. If there is no damage, this won’t harm your home appraisal. No need to clear out any under-sink storage but do make sure it is clean and accessible. Yes, the appraiser will look under your sinks to ensure there isn’t any water damage or problems hiding. But they generally won’t be what hurts a home appraisal.

It’s best to do a little organization before the appraisal if they’re messy. However, if there are obvious signs of disrepair, broken hinges, infestation, etc., they might look in cabinets. In most homes, the appraiser will have no reason to look in the cabinets because they do not need to open them to measure living space. They’ll take photos along the way of every interior room. Yes, an appraiser will examine the inside of your home, recording dimensions, amenities, and overall condition. Let’s take a look at how detailed these inspections can be. Homeowners often wonder where the appraiser will look and what could end up hurting their appraisal. Things Appraisers Look at That Might Surprise Youīy now, you’re probably wondering exactly how detailed appraisals can be. So they may require that you fix certain things that come up on an appraisal before the VA will approve a loan. The VA is also very protective of the service people it is appraising homes for. This depends on who your home buyer’s lender is. But keep in mind, you won’t always have a choice. However, they are less likely to make adjustments for certain features that can make a home more attractive to the right buyer.įor example, a traditional appraiser might give your home some “extra value” for having an amazing, kid-friendly backyard that is so much better than the one on the comp homes compared to yours.Ī VA appraiser determines value a little more by the book with little wiggle room from unexpected appealing factors in your home.įor this reason, what hurts a home appraisal can be that you got a VA appraisal, not a traditional one. They will also be looking at the above items that a traditional appraiser looks for. They also use a “Uniform Residential Appraisal Report.” The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has set forth some specific guidelines for appraisals since Veterans can utilize a unique VA home loan. This is necessary since no two houses are exactly alike. They will use a “sales comparison” approach, which means they will choose three comps (comparable sales) in the local market and outline how your house is similar or different from those properties. Type of neighborhood (rural, urban, suburban).Off-street parking, driveway, garage, etc.Basement and attic features, whether they’re finished or not.We will explore what appraisers are looking for while examining your home.įor consistency, the appraiser uses a “ Uniform Residential Appraisal Report.” This helps eliminate bias and ensures that all inspectors are playing by the same rules. Read on to learn what hurts a home appraisal and what you can do about it. Many home sellers worry about this process and wonder what negatively affects home appraisal results. If they’re taking out a mortgage to buy a house, the lender uses the appraisal to determine how much loan value they will offer. The appraisal is important to buyers, as well. The results of the appraisal help you determine the asking price for your home.

#RESIDENTIAL HOME APPRAISAL CHECKLIST PROFESSIONAL#

It must be completed by a professional who is qualified and certified in your state. An appraisal is an unbiased, professional opinion of how much your home is worth.

Residential home appraisal checklist