Getting a home real estate appraisal is an crucial step in the process of selling your home. Avoiding a few common appraisal preparation mistakes can help you get top-dollar for your home.
If you are beginning the process to sell your home, you will at some point have a home real estate appraisal for your Arkansas property. You may be feeling nervous that you could receive a low home appraisal. After all, if it comes back too low, then you may have a hard time finalizing your home sale without first reducing the price. Fortunately, by avoiding some all-too-common mistakes, you can help maximize the value of your home so that you get the home real estate appraisal you expect.
- Failing to Document Improvements
- Deck or patio additions
- Bathroom and kitchen renovations
- Vaulting existing ceilings
- Adding more windows
- Roof replacement
- Neglecting Curb Appeal
- Ignoring Simple, Small Repairs
- Overlooking the Neighborhood
Hopefully, you have been taking the time to carefully document the various improvements you have made to your home since you first purchased it. Unfortunately, some homeowners will just assume that an appraiser will be able to determine which parts of the home are new or improved upon.
By carefully documenting the type of repair or improvement done, along with when it was done and how much you spent on the project, your home appraiser will be able to more accurately determine your home’s value. These are some common improvements that can raise the value of your home appraisal:
Another extremely common mistake you will want to avoid that may cause you to end up with a low home appraisal is neglecting your home’s exterior appearance. Curb appeal is the first thing a prospective buyer will notice about a home. If your home looks like it’s been neglected from the outside, why would a buyer even want to step foot inside?
Take the time to make sure your yard is well landscaped and that your home’s exterior is clean. Consider renting a power washing machine and hiring a window washing service to help your home look enticing to prospective buyers.
When an appraiser sees that you have ignored even the smallest and simplest of repairs, what are they supposed to think about your capability to maintain the more important components of your home, such as your HVAC unit and roofing? Even if you do not know how to complete these small repairs yourself, find a local handyman that you can trust to take care of them for you. It just could make all the difference in your home real estate appraisal.
Most appraisers will do thorough research on the surrounding neighborhoods when determining the value of an Arkansas home. However, it is a good idea to make a list of local amenities and attractions to give to your appraiser when they arrive. This could include anything from that great children’s park around the block from your home or that popular neighborhood coffee shop that just opened up the road.
Your home’s value is ultimately determined not just by how well you have cared for your home, but its location and the current real estate market as well. Noting that your home is located within close proximity to activities and attractions can make a bigger difference than you might think.
These are just a few of the ways to increase your chances of a successful home real estate appraisal and reduce the odds of a low home appraisal. If you are preparing to sell your home and need an accurate home real estate appraisal, contact Ferstl Valuation Services at 501.313.0641 to schedule an appointment.
