Do appraisers count landscaping?

Appraisers don't just evaluate the interior of your home — they also take desirable exterior features like garages, sheds, porches, and decks into account. The appraiser will take note of the landscaping as well because it's the first thing buyers see when they pull up to your house.

upnest.com - What Do Home Appraisers Look For During An Appraisal?

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The Inside Scoop on Home Appraisers

The appraisal is one of the last major obstacles on your path to a successful home sale. If it goes well, the buyer will likely be able to secure financing and close on your home. But if your house appraises for less than expected, you may be forced to lower the purchase price or risk losing the sale. So what do home appraisers look for?

As a motivated seller who wants to get top dollar for their home, you’d probably like to know what do home appraisers look for to maximize the appraisal. Below we’ll cover the main factors professional appraisers consider and discuss what do home appraisers look for to get you the appraisal you want.

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What do home appraisers look for?

Lenders require a home appraisal before they’ll give a buyer financing. Banks want to make sure that your home is a good investment and don’t want to lend more money than it’s worth. So they’ll usually have an appraiser inspect your home in person and give their professional opinion on its value. After the appraisal is done, you’ll receive a report with the findings so you can see exactly how the appraiser determined the fair market price of your home. If you’re wondering what do home appraisers look for when conducting their visual review of your home, keep reading.

Size and Layout

One of the main factors appraisers consider is the size of the home. They take into account the total square footage, the size of each room, and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. They’ll also look to see if your home has a crawlspace, attic, or basement, which all add value. Appraisers may also evaluate your home’s layout and how well it flows. Houses with open floor plans usually appreciate faster than ones with choppy layouts and lots of closed-off rooms.

Condition of the Home

Another thing that appraisers evaluate is the general condition of your home. They’ll check to make sure that your house is structurally sound and doesn’t have problems that could affect its livability, like foundation or roofing issues. Appraisers will also inspect your siding, gutters, roof, HVAC, plumbing and other home systems to make sure they’re in good working order. If they’re old or in need of repairs, it could negatively affect the estimate. Additionally, appraisers look for signs that your house hasn’t been properly maintained. If they see things like peeling paint, ripped carpets, broken windows, or leaky faucets, it could detract from your home’s value.

Materials and Fixtures

Appraisers usually factor in the quality of the home’s building materials and finishes as well. A house with laminate countertops and basic white appliances may appraise for less than a home with quartz countertops and high-end stainless steel appliances. If your house is outdated and has undesirable finishes like pink toilets or worn-out blue carpets, that may also count against you.

Improvements and Amenities

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If you’ve made any improvements to your home since the last time it was appraised, you may want to bring them to the appraiser’s attention. Things like installing energy-efficient appliances, adding in a pool, and upgrading your water heater can all increase the value of your home. Homes with special amenities like fireplaces, wood stoves, and porches may also receive a higher estimate.

Exterior Features

Appraisers don’t just evaluate the interior of your home — they also take desirable exterior features like garages, sheds, porches, and decks into account. The appraiser will take note of the landscaping as well because it’s the first thing buyers see when they pull up to your house. The size and topography of your home’s lot is also factored in. Homes with spacious, flat lots usually appraise for more than houses with small, sloped lots that are harder for buyers to build on and utilize.

Neighborhood

Appraisers also take the neighborhood into consideration. They evaluate the proximity of your home to amenities like schools, shopping malls, and hospitals. They consider how the neighborhood is zoned and take a look at other properties in the area too. If your home is next to an abandoned, run-down house, that may detract from its value. Your home might also be worth less if it’s located in a rural town versus a desirable city or suburb.

Market Conditions

Market conditions in your local area can also affect your home’s appraisal. If there are lots of houses on the market and demand is low, your home may be worth less than you expected. If you’re not in a rush to sell, it may be worth it to wait for the market to heat up again. Spring is usually when most buyers look for homes, so you may get a higher appraisal then.

Sales Comps

Appraisers also look at three or four similar homes that have sold in the past few months to help determine the value of your property. They’ll try to find sales comps that are as close of a match to your home as possible in terms of amenities, square footage, location, and number of bedrooms and bathrooms. By comparing these sales comps to your property and adjusting for the presence or absence of certain features, they can arrive at an accurate estimate.

How do I prepare for a home appraisal?

You can’t control some factors appraisers consider, such as the neighborhood your home is located in. But there are still things you can do to get your home ready for the appraisal and help ensure the process goes smoothly.

Clean Up Your Home

Appraisers are taught to look past messes and clutter, so your home may still appraise for the full asking price even if it isn’t spotless. However, it’s still a good idea to deep clean your home so it makes a positive first impression. If your home has any odors from pets or cigarettes, you should also take steps to deodorize your home. Additionally, make sure you clear a path in the garage, basement, and attic so the appraiser can easily access them. And don’t forget to spruce up the outside of your home by trimming the hedges, mowing the lawn, and mulching. Although the furniture and decor inside your home won’t affect the appraisal, landscaping the exterior in a pleasing way may increase your property’s value.

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Write Down a List of Upgrades

It can be hard for appraisers to spot the upgrades that have been made to your home since its last appraisal. That’s why it’s a good idea to write a list of all the improvements you’ve made so you can pass it along to the appraiser. If you remember the date they were completed and how much they cost, include that information too.

Make Repairs

If you’ve been putting off home maintenance projects, it’s important to finish them up before the appraisal. Appraisers take seemingly small issues like holes in the walls, missing handrails, cracked floor tiles, and broken door latches into account. Little things can add up and reduce your home’s value substantially, so it’s worth it to spend an afternoon fixing them. If you’re not sure which repairs you should make ahead of your appraisal, your real estate agent can help you figure out what to focus on. Haven’t found an agent to oversee your home sale yet? UpNest, which is owned by parent company Realtor.com, can connect you with top real estate agents in your area who will guide you through every step of the process from offer to appraisal. Top agents know what do home appraisers look for and can help you get top dollar on your sale. UpNest is a no-cost service for home sellers and buyers to find the best real estate agents locally. The UpNest platform allows you to compare multiple agents in your area so you can compare reviews, commission rates, previous sales, and more. Our network agents have been carefully vetted and often offer competitive, lower than average commission rates to UpNest customers. There is no obligation to sign up with one of our network Realtors, but when you can potentially save thousands on commission – why wouldn’t you? If you’re ready to get started, just enter your zipcode below!

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upnest.com - What Do Home Appraisers Look For During An Appraisal?

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