critical part of selling get your home back into "show"
a home is the appraisal. condition before the appraiser
Here's how to plan for it.
comes.
You have a contract to sell your Everything you know about a tidy
home and now the appraiser is approach to your home, well
coming. The appraisal needs to mulched flower beds, door knobs
come in at a good price in order that are attached firmly and work
for your buyer to get his loan. smoothly, lack of finger prints,
What should you do? lack of clutter, and all the rest
applies. Take a look at a
The Appraiser Says "Uniform Residential Appraisal
Report" form if you doubt me. The
Appraisers typically tell people age of the home and the
not to do anything special before "effective age" are asked for
they come. They tell the owner under the "General Description."
they see lots of houses and they Don't you think how well your
can look past a little clutter home appears to be cared for
and dust. "Don't be nervous," affects the number that appears
they counsel. Appraisers are under "effective age?"
sincere people. I'm sure they
mean what they say. The Uniform Appraisal Report
requires information about
I Say materials (and their condition)
used for floors, walls, trim and
On the other hand, appraisers are finishing elements, bathroom
human. They respond to floors and wainscots, and for
cleanliness and order and to good interior doors. Appraisers train
maintenance the same way buyers themselves to notice these
do. If you've let your hair down, details. If yours are dusted,
polished, and free of scratches your house to handle the rain
and fingerprints, don't you think water well.
you might be giving your
appraisal a nudge in the right Let me share the "comments"
direction? section of an appraisal which got
the owners what they wanted. I
The Report also asks about think it'll give you a good feel
kitchen equipment (refrigerator, for what you need to do. "The
range and oven, disposal, subject is well maintained and no
dishwasher, fan and hood, physical, functional or external
microwave, and washer and dryer). inadequacies were noted.
Do you think it'd be a good idea Marketability is enhanced by
to have them clean and purring? hardwood flooring throughout a
majority of the home, an updated
The Report asks about amenities kitchen, fresh interior and
such as fireplaces, patios, exterior paint, transom windows,
decks, porches, fences, pools, built-ins, a front porch, a rear
and sheds. If an appraiser is patio, a large storage shed, 4
going to take special note of fireplaces, etc."
such things, shouldn't they be
swept, cleaned, and have paint in The appraiser is a human being.
good condition? Also, clean out Make sure you do everything you
the gutters if they need it. If can to appeal to them and you'll
it should be raining on the day get a good appraisal.
your appraisal is done, you want
About the Author:
Raynor James is with the FSBO site - http://www.fsboamerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner. Visit our "sell my home" page - http://www.fsboamerica.org/seller.cfm - to sell your house yourself with a free 1 month listing.
Source: www.isnare.com
