Wondering how to prepare for a home appraisal? A little preparation goes a long way. With the right approach, you can help ensure your home is valued fairly—so you don’t risk underselling or overpaying.
Tips On What To Do Before A Home Appraisal
These low-effort, high-impact tips won’t drastically change your home’s value—but they can help create a smoother process and better outcome and set both you and your appraiser up for success.
- Boost curb appeal: Trim the bushes, mow the lawn, sweep the walkway, and tidy up the front porch. A well-maintained exterior helps set a positive tone before the appraiser even steps inside.
- Clean and declutter: Make sure every room is easy to walk through. Most importantly, clear access to essential areas—like the crawl space, attic, or utility room. That means moving any boxes or furniture that might be blocking key spots.
- Knock Out Minor Repairs (Our $500 Rule): Take care of those nagging little projects—fix the leaky faucet, replace broken light fixtures, tighten loose doorknobs.
TAG Tip: Keep your updates under $500. Even small improvements can make a big impression.Major items like a new roof or HVAC system won’t necessarily increase your value. These are considered routine maintenance, not big value-boosters. Spend wisely!
- Make a list of your upgrades: Put together a list of recent improvements, like kitchen upgrades or new flooring. Include dates and costs if you have them. This gives your appraiser helpful context without them needing to dig for it.
- Check for safety issues: Make sure smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and handrails are in place and working. These might seem like small details, but they play a role in your home’s condition rating.
TAG Tip: If your buyer is using a VA loan, safety features like these are especially critical. Missing items can delay the process or trigger required repairs before closing.
- Ensure easy access: Your appraiser will need to inspect utilities like the water heater, HVAC system, and electrical panel. Clear a path to these areas so they don’t run into any obstacles or delays.
- Organize permits and documentation: If you’ve added anything major to your home—like a deck, pool, or addition—have those permits ready. This reassures the appraiser that the work was done professionally and to code.
Tips On What To Do Before A Home Appraisal
At TAG, we know how important an accurate, unbiased appraisal is—whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or just want peace of mind. With our local knowledge and decades of experience, we’re here to make the process smooth, quick, and reliable.
Connect with Rachel Mann on LinkedIn:
Thanks for reading! We love sharing insights from the TAG team, and we’re always looking to connect with others who are passionate about real estate, marketing, and community.
Have thoughts to share or want to collaborate on a future post? Let’s talk!
