7 Things to DO to Increase the Value of Your Appraisal (Part 2)

By Joshua A. Carlson

Last week we discussed things to DO to increase the value of your properties appraisal. We covered the number 1 (Talk to the appraiser prior to the visit) and number 2 (Take care of smaller repairs) things to do. The following are the additional 5 things you should do to increase the value of your appraisal…

3. Tidy up a bit: It does not have to look like Mr.  & Mrs. Clean live there, but it should not look like an episode of ‘Hoarders – Buried Alive’ was just filmed there either. First impressions do count and usually set the tone for the appraisal. Do put forth some effort; improve your backyard with a custom backyard putting green, mow the lawn, trim the hedges and clear away debris, inside & out. You may also hire commercial roofing and roof hail damage services to inspect and/or repair your roofing system or provide roof replacement. You may visit this site if you need to hire a trustworthy roofing contractor.

You can also look for Dependable Roofing system to online sites, which can be cheaper or more expensive. Check their services and prices well.

If you don’t have time to go online sites and check them out, you might to see for nearby roofing services that are fit for your budget as well like Paramount Commercial Roofing.

4. Prepare & share: Make a short list of improvements, upgrades and/or renovations you’ve made to the property since you’ve owned it. It does not matter if big or small… include it. You can include information like how much you spent on that custom kitchen and when it was completed. If you’ve enclosed a Florida room or garage and did it legally, show the appraiser the open and closed permits. An increase in livable square footage area increases your property value. As you may know, public record data is not always correct. Lastly, if you have the site survey, show it to the appraiser. That little piece of paper is very helpful to them because it’s chock full of information that goes into an appraisal report.

5. Keep your appointment: Almost nothing is more aggravating to an appraiser than driving clear across town for a scheduled appraisal and you forgetting the appointment. Respect their time and they will respect yours.

6. Get your Realtor to do the walk-through: They’re the local expert as well. They speak the same language and can offer insights such as possible pending sales ready to close. Even things such as how the retaining wall abutting the subject property is also a sound barrier which is why it does not suffer from any external obsolescence, etc. Whether it’s a roof repair or replacement, give Greenway Roofing a call and they will be glad to help you out.

7. Ask for a copy: You should ask for a copy of the appraisal report. Most of the time you will have to get the appraisal report from the lender as the appraiser will not be able to send it to you directly. Having a copy of the appraisal is the first step in disputing an unusually low value of the home. Perhaps the square footage was misrepresented because the property wasn’t physically measured, the bedroom/bathroom count was incorrect or the condition was misrepresented. Whatever the issue, it starts with scrutinizing the appraisal report. Even if you had a favorable valuation, you should ask for a copy of the report. The longer you wait to ask for it, the less likely you’ll be in getting the lender to provide it.