Home Appraisal Checklist: What Buyers, Sellers & Homeowners Should Know
What Do Home Appraisers Look For?
Home Appraisal Preparation Checklist
1. Make the property accessible. Ensure the appraiser can access the interior, exterior, garage, attic or crawl space when applicable, utilities, and major systems that are part of the assignment.
2. Address obvious maintenance issues. Leaks, damaged surfaces, broken fixtures, missing handrails, exposed wiring, peeling paint, or other visible defects can affect condition observations and may matter more under some loan programs.
3. Keep useful property records available. Permits, renovation records, roof or HVAC replacement information, surveys, and other documentation can help clarify improvements or property characteristics when relevant.
4. Present the home clearly. Cleanliness does not create value by itself, but an uncluttered property makes inspection easier and helps the appraiser observe condition accurately.
5. Let the appraiser do the assignment independently. Sellers and owners can answer factual questions and provide relevant documentation, but should avoid pressuring the appraiser toward a particular value.
What Can Hurt a Home Appraisal?
Factors can include deferred maintenance, significant damage, functional problems, unpermitted or poorly documented additions, adverse site or location influences, inferior condition relative to comparable properties, and market evidence that does not support the contract price or owner’s expectation.
Cosmetic updates can improve marketability, but they do not automatically produce a dollar-for-dollar appraisal increase.
Appraisal Requirements Can Differ by Loan Program
Conventional: Appraisal scope and property requirements depend on the loan, property, agency guidance, and lender requirements. See our conventional loan guide.
FHA: FHA appraisals include valuation plus FHA-specific property considerations. See our FHA loan guide.
VA: VA appraisals follow VA valuation and minimum property requirements. See our VA loan guide.
Refinance: A refinance appraisal may be required depending on the loan type and transaction. See our refinance options.
Home Appraisal Questions
What do appraisers look for?
Appraisers evaluate the property and relevant market evidence, including condition, size, features, site, neighborhood, and comparable sales appropriate to the assignment.
How should I prepare for a home appraisal?
Make the property accessible, address obvious maintenance issues, organize records of meaningful improvements, and allow the appraiser to inspect the property independently.
Can I give comparable sales to an appraiser?
Relevant factual information may be provided, but the appraiser independently determines which comparables are appropriate and how much weight they receive.
What hurts a home appraisal?
Condition problems, functional issues, adverse location factors, unsupported additions, and market evidence below the expected value can all affect the analysis.
Is an appraisal the same as a home inspection?
No. An appraisal is primarily a valuation assignment for the lender and may include program-specific property observations. A home inspection is a separate, more detailed evaluation for the buyer or owner.