Getting ready for an appraisal from Lundquist Appraisals & Real Estate Services


	To appraise a property, an appraiser needs to be licensed by the state when it's a federally related transaction. Just give us a call at 260-563-2812 if you have any questions about the appraisal process.

To facilitate 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 readily 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 lists 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, septic systems and your well.
A list of any 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).
A copy of the current listing agreement with broker's data sheet and purchase agreement if a sale is "pending".
Information on "Homeowners Associations" or condominium covenants and fees.
A list of "suggested" improvements if the property is to be appraised "as complete".

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

Here are a few other recommendations:

Accessibility: Appraisers are very detailed in their inspections. Make sure that all areas of the home are accessible, especially the attic and crawl space.
Housekeeping: Appraisers see quite a few of homes a year and will look past most clutter, but they're human beings too! A good impact can mean a higher value for your home.
Maintenance: We often recommend 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, definitely ask your appraiser if there are specific things that should be done before they arrive. Some things they may recommend might be: putting smoke detectors on all levels and especially near bedrooms, where paint is peeling it should be removed and repainted, fixing leaky or dripping faucets, fixing broken windows or other glass like doors.