Marcia Novak & Associates, LLC's appraisal checklist


	Did you know you, as a borrower, are entitled to receive a copy of the completed appraisal report from the lender? Contact us if you have any questions about the appraisal process.

To speed the appraisal process along as quickly as possible we generally recommend to have these documents, if available, ready for the appraiser:

A plot plan or survey of the house and land (if available).
Any records on the purchase of the property for the last three years.
Written property agreements, such as a maintenance agreement for a shared driveway.
List of personal property to be sold with the home.
Any documents, such as a title policy with information on encroachments or easements 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 upgrades, the date of their installation and their cost (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 agreements or fees.
A list of "proposed" improvements if the property is to be appraised "as complete".

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

Here are a few other helpful tips:

Accessibility: Appraisers are very thorough in their inspections. We recommend that all areas of the home are accessible, especially the attic and crawl space.
Housekeeping: Appraisers see many of homes a year and are no strangers to clutter, but they're human beings too! A good impression can translate into a higher value for your home.
Maintenance: We often recommend repairing minor 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, be sure to ask your appraiser if there are extra things that should be done before they arrive. Some items they may recommend might be: putting smoke detectors on every floor of the home and especially near bedrooms, scraping and touching up where there's paint peeling, eliminating pull-chain lights in areas other than the basement or attic.