How to Prepare for a Home Appraisal: 6 Essential Tips

A home appraisal can make or break a sale when you’re selling your home. Being well-prepared for an appraisal can help you get the best appraisal value and prevent any issues that a low appraisal can cause. Buyers normally cover the cost of a home appraisal, but it’s in the seller’s best interest to prepare their home for the appraisal to maximize the appraisal value.

1. Improve Your Curb Appeal

Your home’s exterior and yard are the first things a local home appraiser will see, so keep them looking their best. Clean up your yard, trim back trees and bushes, add fresh mulch, and clean up the driveway and walkways. If needed, clean your siding, touch up any exterior paint, and ensure your deck, porch, and patio are in good condition. While a home appraisal isn’t the same as a land appraisal, your yard is part of the property and will play a part in determining your appraisal value.

2. Clean and Declutter

The appraiser won’t specifically factor in how clean your home is into the appraisal, but a clean, decluttered home speaks well to the home’s condition and will look well maintained in the pictures that accompany the appraisal. A clean, uncluttered home looks well cared for and appealing to buyers. Decluttering also has the added bonus of making your home accessible for the appraiser.

3. List Your Upgrades

Knowing what improvements you’ve made can help an appraiser determine the value of your house. Put together a list of upgrades like a recent roof replacement, kitchen renovations, or anything else that adds value to your home, and gather documentation like receipts or work invoices in one place so the appraiser can factor the improvements into the appraisal value. Some upgrades may not be immediately visible, so be sure to point out any improvements to your electrical, plumbing, or HVAC systems.

4. Know Your Comps

An appraisal takes more than just your home’s condition into consideration—the sales prices of nearby comparable homes, called “comps,” also help determine your home’s value. How much nearby homes have recently sold for can affect your appraisal vs. market value and dictate how much your home can actually sell for. As a seller, you may want to pay for a home appraisal before listing so you can list your home at a good price that your local market supports.

5. Make Necessary Repairs

If you have any minor repairs you’ve been putting off, now’s the time to do them. Even small problems can hurt your appraisal value, so fix any plumbing issues, replace that faulty light fixture, and finally, fix the loose railing on the porch. Safety issues, in particular, should be a priority on your fix-it list. FHA appraisal guidelines put a particular emphasis on the property’s safety, so make sure everything is up to standard before the appraiser comes. 

6. Freshen Up the Interior

Don’t underestimate what a spruced-up interior can do for your appraisal value. Add a fresh coat of paint, replace worn-out fixtures and hardware, and create a warm, welcoming feel to show your home is well-maintained and taken care of. While superficial updates may seem like a minor improvement, they can make a noticeable impact on your appraisal.