Controls on water heaters, low-flow showerheads and appliances with the ENERGY STAR rating may make your home a stand out in that area. There is a section on home appraisal forms for energy-efficient features, so pointing out energy saving improvements you've made to a home is worthwhile. Improvements such as new appliances or replaced supporting fixtures such as ductwork and piping may be recorded positively.

However, if anything is in very bad shape, or not working properly, it could affect the home's value negatively. Replacing older units isn't always cost effective for many looking to sell their homes, but if everything is in working order, clean, or has a record of maintenance and even warranty papers, appraisal value probably won't suffer. Getting estimates for any areas of a home that look worn or broken down helps narrow the field of contractors and handymen, and word-of-mouth often leads to finding the right person or people for the job.Īge and condition of appliances, heating ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) units, and electrical systems, as well as plumbing, are taken into consideration in home appraisals. Simple projects like repairing damaged drywall, painting rooms to add an illusion of height or to brighten them up, and polishing or refinishing wood detailing add qualities of care to a home that may factor into valuation. Whether new or old, home value in comparison to other properties is higher if a property has been well cared for and updated, and if it hasn't, there are some fixes a general contractor can address before an appraiser visits. Older homes, even those with solid construction or craftsmanship, generally have some dated details or obsolete features that don't factor as 'selling points.' Some homes that are only 10 years old have cracks in ceilings where drywall was improperly joined sinking foundations because the land was developed too quickly or any number of building and property issues.

When buying a new house, many people just expect that it will last, or they know that they won't stay in the home for more than a set number of years. You might even want to consider making minor - or even major - changes to your home so you can get the most out of your appraisal, and ultimately, from a buyer. Maybe you can't do anything about the Day-Glo green house next door or the plunging real estate market, but you can show off the love and care you've put into your home sweet home over the years. The price your appraiser sets can make or break the sale of your home, so it is an extremely important step in the home sale - and buying - process. Though appraisers work off of checklists that measure real values in a property, they also have experience and training in raising or lowering the home price based on what buyers want and on how sellers have cared for or neglected their properties.

He acts as a kind of middleman who assesses homes by their condition and by how they compare to other similar homes in the area. And when it comes time to sell, it would be great to set a price based on what you think your own home is worth, but the bank will likely want something more objective before it's ready to match that price with a mortgage for a homebuyer. Paying someone several hundred dollars to tell you how much - or how little - your home is worth may not be the best part of selling a house, but having an appraiser review and record all of the upgrades and improvements you've made to your property can be rewarding.

Printable home appraisal checklist