Some nice tips to save you time on your appraisal from Ransel Real Estate Appraisals


	By law, an appraiser must be state licensed to perform appraisals prepared for federally related transactions - i.e. transactions related to Freddie Mac, Office of Thrift Supervision and the like. Just give us a call at 3377547800 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.
Most recent real estate tax bill and or legal description of the property.
Any inspection reports, or other recent reports for termites, EIFS (synthetic stucco) wall systems, septic systems and your well.
Brag sheet that lists major home improvements and enhancements, the date of their installation and their cost (for example, the addition of insulation 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".
Any "Homeowners Associations" agreements or, if applicable, condo agreements or fees.
A list of "proposed" improvements if the property is to be appraised "as complete".

Once your appraiser arrives, you do not need to accompany them along on the entire site inspection, but you should be available to answer inquiries about your property and be willing to point out any home improvements.

Here are a few other recommendations:

Accessibility: Appraisers are very meticulous in their inspections. We recommend that all areas of the home are accessible, especially the attic and crawl space.
Housekeeping: Appraisers see hundreds of homes a year and will look past most clutter, but they're human beings too! A good impression can translate into a higher home value.
Maintenance: We generally recommend fixing small things like leaky faucets, missing door handles and trim.
FHA and VA Inspection Items: In the case of your borrower trying to apply for either an FHA or VA loan, be sure to ask your appraiser if there are additional things that should be done before they arrive. Some items they may recommend might be: having smoke detectors on every floor of the home and especially near bedrooms, where paint is peeling it should be sanded and repainted, eliminating pull-chain lights in areas other than the basement or attic.