Are you considering selling your home or refinancing your mortgage? To ensure you get the best possible price, it’s crucial to have your home appraised by a licensed professional who can determine its value in the open market.
Preparing your home for an appraisal is easy and can significantly increase your chances of receiving a high appraisal. Here are 10 simple steps you can take to ensure your home is appraised at its highest value:
- Ensure all safety equipment, such as smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, is correctly installed.
- Inspect your home for any damage that may affect its value, such as missing floorboards, leaky roofs, or malfunctioning gutters.
- Inform your appraiser of any home improvements you have made, such as new HVAC units, siding, gutters, or a new roof.
- Make small changes, such as painting walls, replacing faucets and doorknobs, and updating decor to give your home a modern look.
- Research the values of similar homes in your neighborhood and recent sales prices in the area.
- Shampoo carpets, clean walls, power wash driveways and decks, and clear clutter from both the interior and exterior of your home.
- Take care of your yard by mowing the lawn, trimming grass, removing dead trees, and mulching flowerbeds.
- Update your home’s features, such as countertops, cabinets, and flooring, to make it more attractive to potential buyers and appraisers.
- Keep the $500 Rule in mind and fix any minor problems that could potentially decrease your home’s value.
- Explore the surrounding area beyond your home, including new schools, parks, or highway ramps, that could help increase your home’s value.
By following these simple steps, you can increase your chances of receiving a high appraisal and getting the best possible price for your home.