Congratulations! You just secured the Right Sales Price for your home with a buyer and you’re in contract! Now, the buyer’s lender wants to make sure that your property is worth the price they pay. Typically, this is done by an appraisal. So, what are some tips you can use to make sure that your home appraisal goes well and comes in at the contract value?
Hi, I’m Terry Tucker with eXp Realty, I’m a 27-year real estate veteran who loves helping people sell and buy homes right here in the San Ramon Valley and the greater San Francisco Bay Area!
First of all, it’s really important to know what an appraisal is and how it can make or break a sale. An appraisal is a report ordered by a buyer’s lender to determine the value of a property based on its condition, characteristics, and how it will relate to neighboring comparable sales. So what are some tips you can do to enhance your
home value before an appraiser does an assessment on your property?
Number one rule: *first impressions matter* and you want to showcase your property at its best from the exterior to the interior.
Curb appeal is your best chance to make that first-grade impression with the appraiser. You can enhance your property by putting out new mulch, planting fresh flowers, mowing your lawn, and trimming overgrown bushes. You may even want to touch up some exterior paint or power washing.
After working on the exterior, you want to make sure that your interior is just as appealing. Since you’re already on the market your home totally looks fantastic already but clearing some counters and making sure it sparkles a little bit is absolutely gonna help with the appraisal. It is simply best practice to make their job easier and more accessible.
Although an appraiser is not going to do a complete home inspection, they are gonna be looking for certain items to be there. They’re gonna look for things like smoke detectors that are near and installed in each bedroom, water heaters are braced and appliances are working properly. They will also, look at the overall maintenance of the property, so be on the lookout for any leaks or visible electrical issues.
Finally, they are going to look at the neighborhood comparable sales. They are going to evaluate what homes have sold recently compared to your home and the characteristics to determine the final value.
Bottomline, the appraisal doesn’t have to be worrisome if your home is ready and
worth the price! If you would like more information of recently sold comparables
in your neighborhood, call me and I’ll prepare a free home valuation report for you.
If you would like more information on San Francisco East Bay Area real estate, Call me today and let’s talk about it. I’m a seasoned East Bay expert with a 5-star rating. I’ll help you navigate the market and make it happen, whether that’s selling, buying or both!
And if you or someone you know needs to sell a home, ask me about my home-selling plans.. I took the pain out of negotiating with a Realtor and made it SUPER simple. Really! Choose Silver, Gold, or Platinum- Pick your Plan and Pick your Price. Terms do apply. I’m Terry Tucker and I’m a home selling expert. Let’s get you going, Call me today!
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