Selling your home is already an ordeal. The last thing you want is to have all your hard work derailed by a low appraisal.
A low appraisal means the appraiser has valued your home lower than your sales price. That can create problems, especially when the buyer wants you to drop your price to meet the appraised value. To get the highest valuation possible for your home from an appraisal, here are 4 things you can do:
1. Clean and de-clutter. A pristine house will subjectively feel more valuable than a cluttered messy house. An appraiser doesn’t expect the home to be staged and perfect, but do what you can to make it feel fresh…as if you were showing it to new buyers.
2. Address potential distractions. Take kids and dogs away during the appraisal. Also, consider anything else unique to your situation that might be a distraction, and think about how you might counter it.
3. Spruce up your curb appeal. Just like home buyers, an appraiser will form opinions based on first impressions.
4. Make a list of improvements and upgrades you’ve made. If you’ve recently had your roof replaced or upgraded your plumbing, make sure the appraiser has a list of those things. If possible, have receipts and other supporting documentation to prove the work was done professionally. Appraisers need this information to justify their valuation to the bank that hired them.