What Does An Appraiser Look For At Your House?

What does an appraiser look for at your house when completing an appraisal?

Residential home appraisals take place for multiple reasons and for different users. Whether you are selling your home, refinancing, buying a home, contesting property taxes,

or getting a divorce, the appraiser needs to collect information about your home firsthand. But what specifically is an appraiser looking for when they come to your house?

When an appraiser comes to your house they will look to verify and inspect all aspects of your home that contribute to market value. They will start outside looking for apparent damage to the exterior of the home and measure the exterior of the bottom floor for the square footage. They will also measure any patio or porch areas on the property.

They’ll take note and measure other items on the property that add value such as pools, sheds, workshops, outdoor kitchens, and other permanent structures.

After the appraiser has collected all the data on the exterior of the home they will go inside the home. Typically, they will need to take pictures of all the rooms in your home. If the appraisal is being prepared for a lender, the lender will want proof of the room count and bathroom count in the home. Also, the pictures help the intended user of the report see for themselves the condition of the home.

The appraiser will also take notes on the condition of the home and what type of materials were used in the construction of the home. What are the countertops made of? What type of material is used for the flooring? What type of finishes does the home have?

The aspects of the home that contribute most to the market value are:

· Location

· Square footage

· Lot size

· Bathroom count

· Bedroom count

· Condition of the home

· Quality of materials used in the construction of the home

· Advantageous views

· Exterior features (Pool, Shed, Workshop, etc.)

Appraisers will also need to know if any recent updates have been made to the home. They could also ask about the cost of those upgrades and the materials used in the upgrade.

Another important thing to know is that the appraiser will assume the structural components of the home are intact and functioning unless there is apparent damage. They will assume the foundation is sound unless they see cracks in the walls and flooring. They will assume the A/C functions well if they walk into a cool home. They will assume the plumbing and electrical are up to code and do not present any future danger to the homeowner. For a more detailed examination of these aspects, it is important to hire an inspector before you purchase any real estate property.

If you have any questions or need an appraisal, please contact Maverick Appraisals at 469-352-0585.