Ideas to Improve the Appraisal of a Home

In a volatile real estate market, an appraisal may mean the difference between selling your house for the asking price and never have to settle for a discounted deal. Mortgage lenders rely on house assessments to ascertain how much money they’ll lend for the purchase of a house. Home appraisals are based on the selling price of similar homes in the area; the prices is a comparative price. If your house looks better than many, your appraisal will likely be higher.

Curb Appeal

First impressions count. Improve what real estate brokers call”curb appeal.” Trim bushes, pull weeds, plant attractive flowers and tidy the landscaping. Make sure that your entire yard is as great as, or better thanjust about any yard in the area. An appraiser will determine your home’s worth by comparing it with other people in your area, so make sure your house looks better than the rest.

Those Little Repairs

An appraiser that sees small repairs that were put off might think that larger repairs have been treated exactly the same way. Locate all the small fix-it jobs around your house and take good care of these prior to the appraisal. Tighten screws, replace lightbulbs, nail loose weatherstripping and do any of those other jobs that you have been putting off.

Gather Records

Create a folder with pertinent information about your house to give to this appraiser. Include documents on any enhancements that you have made to the house, like a new roof, a remodeled kitchen or an extra bath. Compose a list of features that your home has that the neighbors could be missing, like an in-ground pool or a fourth bedroom. Add this listing to the folder. Also include any info you might have on the purchase price of homes sold in the area in the previous six months.

Modernize

Take an unbiased look in your house to check for obsolete and outmoded fittings and paint choices. In case you haven’t redecorated in over 10 decades, you might have to freshen up your home’s appearance. Replace any outdated fixtures like ceiling lights with clean-lined modern variants. Remove outdated wallpaper and paint the walls a neutral shade. Don’t go for trendy and modern, but try to create a timeless appearance.

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