Some nice tips to save you time on your appraisal from Grizzly Appraising


	By law, an appraiser must be state licensed to perform appraisals prepared for federally related transactions - i.e. transactions related to OTS, FDIC, etc.... Contact us 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 available).
Any information on the purchase of the property for 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.
Most recent real estate tax bill and or legal description of the property.
Home inspection reports, or other recent reports for termites, EIFS (synthetic stucco) wall systems, your septic system and your well.
A list of any major home improvements and upgrades, the amount of their purchase and date of their installation (for example, the addition of insulation 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 "proposed" improvements when the property is being appraised "as complete".

Once your appraiser arrives, you do not need to escort them along on the entire site inspection, but you should be present to answer questions about your property and be willing to point out any home improvements.

Here are some other helpful tips:

Accessibility: Appraisers are very detailed in their inspections. You should make sure that all areas of the home are accessible, especially the attic and crawl space.
Housekeeping: Appraisers see a lot of homes a year and will look past most clutter, but they're human beings too! A good impression can translate into a higher value for your home.
Maintenance: We often suggest 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, we strongly recommend to ask your appraiser if there are extra things that should be done before they arrive. Some things they may recommend might be: having smoke detectors on every floor of the home and especially near bedrooms, ensuring there are electrical receptacles in every room (note: GFI outlets are no longer required) and that each outlet functions, eliminating pull-chain lights in areas other than the basement or attic.