Best real estate agents near Lyons, GA

While some aspects of an appraisal, such as comparable properties nearby, are out of your control, there are several steps you can take to potentially increase your home's value. Make any necessary repairs and upgrades before the appraiser's visit, as they can only value what is currently part of the home, not its potential. Examples include renovating older areas, updating landscaping to boost curb appeal, and staging your home. You can also provide the appraiser with the cost of recent upgrades, which may increase your home's value by about 50% or more of what you paid for those improvements.

If you are trying to sell a home with asbestos siding, most jurisdictions force you to disclose this in official documentation about the home. Some potential buyers may not want to purchase a home with asbestos siding, which could negatively affect their health if the siding becomes disturbed. However, as long as the siding is in good condition, some buyers may not see it as a disadvantage. You could take on the cost to replace asbestos siding if you have concerns over this material affecting your home’s resale value.

If the sales agreement has a clause that allows the seller to renegotiate based on the appraised value, then they might be able to back out if the appraisal comes in higher than your offer price. If the agreement doesn’t have that language, then the seller has no legal recourse to back out. They could hold a higher offer as a backup and move onto that one if yours falls through for any reason, but once the agreement is signed, the seller is locked into that purchase price unless there’s a clause stating they can renegotiate.

You may be able to negotiate an as-is purchase, but many sellers who list their homes as-is aren’t willing to lower their asking price since they’ve already accounted for the price of repairs. Homes are often listed as-is for a quick sale, so there’s a chance a seller may negotiate in order to make the sale—it never hurts to ask.