Why The Value of Your Home Is Important

The home appraisal is your last chance to make sure the value of your home comes in as high as possible. The lender can only lend up to the appraised value so the higher that is, the higher the price of the home.

Curb Appeal

What do people see when they pull up to your house? What catches the eye? If they see weeds that need to be pulled and paint peeling, that can affect the value. Making sure the little details of the home’s exterior and landscaping are neat and clean help a lot.

Some budget-friendly ideas for sprucing up your home’s appearance:

• Planting fresh flowers
• Mow the lawn
• Touching up the paint
• Rake leaves
• Trim bushes
• Power wash driveway
• Clean outdoor furniture

These ideas work for your backyard too! New plants, removing weeds and cleaning or buying new backyard furniture can really be helpful.

Declutter Your Home

Putting away non-essential items can help the appraiser do their job more efficiently. By doing this, it helps the appraiser take the pictures and measurements they need. Some ideas of what to clean:

• Kitchen – Make sure the sink is empty and clean. Putting away seldom used appliances to help clear off the counters can be helpful too.
• Living room – Put away any extra blankets, pillows, books, and newspapers. Cleaning up children or pet toys can also be extremely helpful.
• Bedroom – Make sure your bed is made and clothing off the floor.

Should you clean your house?

Absolutely! Most appraisers are trained to look beyond the clutter but even the most trained eye can get distracted. Some areas of your home that can use some cleaning are:

• Windows
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Walls
• Baseboards

How your home smells is important too. Cleaning your home can certainly help with this. By removing smelly trash, cat litter boxes, expired food and dirty laundry can help a lot. If it’s not too hot or cold, you could open a few windows to air out the home as well.

Home Repairs

Look around your home for any repairs that may be needed.  Some simple repairs could really affect your home’s value. Some ideas to look for:

• Dripping faucet
• Scuffed walls
• Securing handrails
• Replace burned out lightbulbs
• Make sure smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are working
• Addressing stained roof or ceiling
• Fix any plumbing issues

Home Structure

Take a look at your home’s foundation, garage, roof and home systems. Take note of any cracks or damage and make necessary repairs. If there is any water damage, these need to be addressed as well. Make sure the garage door opener is working and that all utilities, water, electric, and HVAC systems are working properly.

Provide Proof of Repairs or Improvements

By showing the appraiser receipts or documentation of these items can help your value by providing the proof the appraiser needs to evaluate your home.

Overall, making improvements to your home before an appraisal will help to get the highest value possible. Paying attention to little details and making repairs when needed will always help your home’s value.