Gearing up for an appraisal from Town and Country Appraisals LLC


	To appraise a property, an appraiser needs to be licensed by the state when it's a federally related transaction. Just give us a call at 3213035047 if you have any questions about the appraisal process.

To aid the appraisal process, it's helpful to have these documents ready for the appraiser:

A survey or plot map of the property and building (if available).
Information on the latest purchase of the property in the last three years.
Written property agreements, such as a maintenance agreement for a shared driveway.
A list of any personal property that is part of the home and you intend to be sold with the home, such as an oven, or a washer and dryer.
Title policy that lists encroachments or easements.
A bill for your most recent real estate taxes which should also contain a legal description of the property.
Any inspection reports, or other recent reports for termites, EIFS (synthetic stucco) wall systems, your septic system and wells.
Brag sheet that lists major home improvements and enhancements, 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".
Any "Homeowners Associations" agreements or, if applicable, condo covenants or fees.
A list of "proposed" improvements if the property is to be appraised "as complete".

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

Here are some other helpful recommendations:

Accessibility: Appraisers are very meticulous in their inspections. You should make sure that all areas of the home are accessible, especially the attic and crawl space.
Housekeeping: Appraisers see hundreds of homes a year and will look past most clutter, but they're human beings too! A good impact can translate into a higher home value.
Maintenance: We often suggest fixing small things like leaky faucets, missing door handles and trim.
FHA and VA Inspection Items: If your borrower is applying for either an FHA or VA loan, definitely ask your appraiser if there are additional things that should be done before they arrive. Some things they may recommend might be: having handrails on all stairways, removing and repainting where there's paint peeling, eliminating pull-chain lights in areas other than the basement or attic.