Crane Appraisal Service's appraisal to-do list

To speed up 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 readily available).
• Any information on the purchase of the property for the last three years.
• Written property agreements, such as a maintenance easement for a shared driveway.
• List of personal property to be sold with the building.
• Title policy that Lists encroachments or easements.
• Most recent real estate tax bill and or legal description of the property.
• Any inspection reports, or other recent reports for termites, EIFS (synthetic stucco) wall systems, septic systems and your well.
• Brag sheet that lists major home improvements and upgrades, 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 and 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 "suggested" improvements when the property is being appraised "as complete".

Once your appraiser has arrived, you do not need to escort them along on the entire site inspection, but is usually helpful be present to answer questions about your property and identify any home improvements.

Here are a few other helpful suggestions:

• Accessibility: Appraisers are very detailed in their inspections. You should make sure that all areas of the home are accessible, especially to the attic and crawl space.
• Housekeeping: Appraisers see a lot of homes a year and aren't surprised at seeing a bit of clutter, but they're human beings too! A good impact can mean a better 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 trying to apply for either an FHA or VA loan, definitely ask your appraiser if there are extra things that should be done before they come. Some things they may recommend might be: Make sure you have smoke detectors on all levels (especially near bedrooms); A commonly overlooked item for these types of loans is normally needing handrails on all stairways; peeling paint should be removed and repainted; the appraiser will need to check the attic and crawl space areas.