You listed your house, and it sold!  Now it’s time for the appraisal, and you may be a little nervous.  After all, will the appraiser see the lovely added touches?  Will they notice the new flooring, or the room with the worn carpet?  Yes and no.

The flooring yes, the touches not so much.  The appraiser will first look at what matches your home and  has sold in your area. If your home, from the outside, looks like the neighbors, but the inside has been completely renovated it can be helpful to give the appraiser a list, and copies of the information, of what has been done, and where.  Typically, if they have taken time to call ahead offer to provide this in advance.

Condition and quality are important.  This does not take in to account whether your property is spotless or a little messy.  However, it has been shown, that a generally neat and uncluttered home can make an impact.  So get the space and it’s people ready!  Make sure there are no surprises–like the time I was showing a home and someone was tanning in one of the rooms (oops!)– and offer to put any pets in a room or outside.

The appraisal is an accurate account of your homes value.  The appraiser will do quite a bit of work to make sure their numbers are accurate!  Being prepared for this is essential, so ask your real estate professional to go over your homes value. After all, no one likes this type of surprise!