Homeowners
Preparing Your Home for an Appraisal
By Carlos E. Larocca, Certified Residential Appraiser (Cert Res RD6469)4 min read
To prepare for an appraisal, gather permits and renovation records, ensure access to every room and outbuilding, and list improvements with dates and costs. Cleaning helps presentation, but documented, permitted improvements are what actually support value.
Documents worth gathering
A written list of improvements with dates and approximate costs, building permits, a survey or floor plan, impact window and roof documentation, and HOA or condominium documents for units.
- Permit numbers for additions, roofs, and window replacements
- Recent survey or architectural floor plan
- Warranty documents for roof, HVAC, and impact glazing
- Condo declaration, budget, and assessment disclosures
Access matters more than tidiness
Every room, the garage, the attic access, outbuildings, and the pool equipment area should be reachable. A locked room becomes an assumption in the report, and assumptions weaken a value conclusion.
What does not change the value
Staging, furniture, fresh flowers, and personal property do not affect an appraised value. Unpermitted additions contribute far less than permitted living area because buyers and lenders discount space that cannot be verified.
Frequently asked questions
- Should I make repairs before the appraisal?
- Address safety issues and obvious deferred maintenance such as active leaks or damaged flooring. Cosmetic upgrades made days before the inspection rarely return their cost.