Some useful tips to save you time on your appraisal from Elite Appraisals


	By law, an appraiser must be licensed by the state to perform appraisals prepared for federally related transactions. Just give us a call at (405) 555-0028 if you have any questions about the appraisal process.

To simplify the appraisal process, it's beneficial to have these documents ready for the appraiser:

A plot plan or survey of the house and land (if available).
Information on the latest purchase of the property in 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 will be left behind and sold with the home, such as an oven, or a washer and dryer.
Title policy that describes encroachments or easements.
A bill for your most recent real estate taxes which should also contain a legal description of the property.
Home inspection reports, or other recent reports for termites, EIFS (synthetic stucco) wall systems, your septic system and your well.
Brag sheet that lists major home improvements and upgrades, the date of their installation and their cost (for example, the addition of central air conditioning or roof repairs) and permit confirmation (if available).
Locate copies of the current listing agreement, broker's data sheet and, if the sale is "pending", the purchase agreement.
Information on "Homeowners Associations" or condominium covenants and fees.
A list of "suggested" improvements when the property is being appraised "as complete".

When the appraiser has arrived, you do not need to accompany them along on the entire site inspection, but generally you'll want to be present to answer questions about your property and identify any home improvements.

Here are some other tips:

Accessibility: Appraisers are very thorough in their inspections. We recommend that all areas of the home are accessible, especially the attic and crawl space.
Housekeeping: Appraisers see many of homes a year and are no strangers to clutter, but they're human beings too! A good impact can translate into a better value for your home.
Maintenance: We generally suggest repairing 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, we strongly recommend to ask your appraiser if there are additional things that should be done before they arrive. Some things they may recommend might be: installing a banister on all stairways, where paint is peeling it should be scraped and repainted, eliminating pull-chain lights in areas other than the basement or attic.