Shane Coughlin SRA, Residential Appraisals
The Process
Preparing for the Appraisal. If you are selling or refinancing your home, it will be to your benefit to see that the appraisal process goes smoothly. There are several things that you can do prior to our arrival to ensure a proper and accurate appraisal. Access In most cases, lenders want the appraisal to reflect the “as is” status of the property. This means that we need to have access to all areas of the home. Otherwise, we will need to make the appraisal “subject to” certain assumptions about areas that we cannot access and the lender may refuse to make the loan.
To facilitate access, you can: Make sure that all rooms can be entered by us. For example, if some family members work nights and sleep days, arrangements will need to be made for us to view all rooms. Ensure that we have clean and dry access to crawlspaces and attics (for government loans). Access doors must be opened so the we may at least conduct a “head and shoulders” viewing. Garages, storage areas, closets, basements, etc. all must be viewed by us. We will be taking interior and exterior photographs.