Premier Appraisal Group's appraisal to-do list

Legally, an appraiser must be licensed by the state to perform appraisals prepared for federally related transactions. Just give us a call at 8043770874 if you have any questions about the appraisal process.

To help the appraisal go as smoothly as possible we generally recommend to have these documents, if available, ready for the appraiser:

  • A plot plan or survey of the house and land (if readily available).

  • Any information on the purchase of the property for the last three years.

  • Information on any written private easements, such as a shared driveway with a neighbor.

  • A list of any personal property that is part of the home and you intend to be sold with the home, such as an oven, or a washer and dryer.

  • Title policy that lists encroachments or easements.

  • A bill for your most recent real estate taxes which should also contain a legal description of the property.

  • Any inspection reports, or other recent reports for termites, EIFS (synthetic stucco) wall systems, your septic system and your well.

  • Brag sheet that lists major home improvements and enhancements, the amount of their purchase and date of their installation (for example, the addition of energy efficiency upgrades or roof repairs) and permit confirmation (if available).

  • A copy of the current listing agreement with broker's data sheet and purchase agreement if a sale is "pending".

  • Information on "Homeowners Associations" or condominium covenants and fees.

  • A list of "suggested" improvements when the property is being appraised "as complete".

Once your appraiser has arrived, you do not need to accompany them along on the entire site inspection, but generally you'll want to be present to answer questions about your property and identify any home improvements.

Here are some other suggestions:

  • Accessibility: Appraisers are very detailed in their inspections. Make sure that all areas of the home are accessible, especially the attic and crawl space.

  • Housekeeping: Appraisers see a lot of homes a year and will look past most clutter, but they're human beings too! A good impact can translate into a higher value for your home.

  • Maintenance: We generally suggest repairing small things like leaky faucets, missing door handles and trim.

  • FHA and VA Inspection Items: If your borrower is applying for either an FHA or VA loan, we strongly recommend to ask your appraiser if there are specific things that should be done before they come. Some items they may recommend might be: having smoke detectors on every floor of the home and especially near bedrooms, ensuring there are electrical receptacles in every room and that each outlet functions, repairing any faucets that leak or drip, fixing broken windows or other glass like doors.