Preparing for a Home Appraisal on a Budget

Many homeowners know how nerve-wracking an appraisal can be when applying for a second mortgage or trying to refinance your home. The banks claim that the home appraisers do not look at the way your home is decorated or other minor aesthetic issues, but why take a chance? When you are trying to get the biggest appraisal possible, remember that the home appraisers are just people. Subconsciously, small, seemingly unimportant details can affect their overall impression of your home. Here are some tips on how to impress a home appraiser and cover up minor problems that you do not have the time or money to repair before their visit.

THE LAWN

This is one of those items on your list that really should not make a difference with an appraiser, but really does. It does not cost much money to spruce up your landscape and give the appraiser a good first impression. Be sure that the grass is mown, weed eating is completed, and hedges are trimmed. Edge around the sidewalks and be sure there are no stray pieces of trash from last night's dog invasion. Pick up all toys and tools and store them appropriately. If the weather is warm, pick up some flowers at your local greenhouse and plant them around the area to make it look more attractive. If you have a fence that requires painting, be sure it's clean and maintained. Most of these suggestions take a bit of time but not a whole lot of cash.

THE HOUSE EXTERIOR

We all hate doing it, but wash all the windows. Clean your doors and consider power washing your siding. Be sure that your gutters have been cleaned out and repair any problems with them. If you have a porch or a deck, straighten it up and wash it. Be sure that any minor problems are corrected like loose siding, check the shingles, and the soffet.

THE FLOORS

Be sure to store away any clutter so that the house will look more open and inviting. Vacuum all of your floors and scrub the carpets with a good carpet cleaner. Mop and wax all the hard floors so they will look their best. If you have an older house with some minor floor issues (such as soft spots, etc) this can easily be camouflaged by placing a piece of furniture over top of the spot in question. This could be something as simple as a small knickknack table or a stool. If your carpet has any serious flaws, cut out the part in question and replace it with a piece of extra. Tack it down firmly and brush it out to blend it in with the existing carpet.

THE WALLS

Wiping down the walls will do a lot for painted areas and wallpaper. If you have a wall that looks just terrible, consider covering it with wallpaper. Remove any stray marks with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. If the walls have any glaring holes or blemishes that cannot be repaired before the appraiser gets to your home, hang a picture or mirror over the area. A tall piece of furniture can be positioned in front of bad areas in desperate cases, such as a home entertainment center or the like. Small blemishes in dry wall can be repaired with a little bit of mud and painted over. If the area is wood, use wood filler and then sand down and paint.

SMALL IMPORTANT REPAIRS THAT ADD UP

If you have a limited budget to try and get some things taken care of, consider a few important and inexpensive tasks. Baseboards and doorframes can be added relatively easily and are cheaper in comparison to other home repairs. It will make your house look much more finished and attractive. Any light switches that do not work need to be repaired so that the appraiser can determine if they work. If you are missing some doors for closets or pantries, consider putting these up before the appraisal. Even inexpensive doors will add value to your home. Light fixtures that are missing or outdated can be replaced for just a few dollars. Check out the faucets and spigots to see if they are severely corroded. If they are, replace them with some new ones.

By spending some time and energy on your home's overall look, you can easily add thousands of dollars to your home appraisal.