9 things To Do and 1 Not To Do When Your Home is Appraised

Cooperation is the key to success

Selling or refinancing a home is a stressful and complex process. I wrote more about it here:

What is a Real Estate Appraisal and Why Does it Matter?

The appraisal is an essential part of the process. The steps below will make the process smoother for you and the appraiser.

1. Set an appointment for the appraiser to come to your property as soon as possible. The loan will not close until the lender has the appraisal report.
2. Communicate to everyone in the home when and why the appraiser is coming. More than one appraiser has walked in on folks still sleeping or walking around in their underwear.
3. Prepare for the inspection by decluttering. The appraiser will take photos of every room, so clothes tossed on the couch and toys on the floor will show in the photographs.
4. Take time off from work if necessary. A responsible adult familiar with the property has to be there while the appraiser’s there. This is not the time to leave the teenager in charge. That’s a recipe…