Some great tips to save you time on your appraisal from Alpha Valuations

Just give us a call at 630-301-8530 if you have any questions about the appraisal process.

To aid the appraisal process, it's beneficial to have these documents ready for the appraiser:

  • A plot plan or survey of the house and land (if available).

  • Any information on the purchase of the property for the last three years.

  • Information on any written private easements, such as a shared driveway with a neighbor.

  • 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.

  • Home inspection reports, or other recent reports for termites, EIFS (synthetic stucco) wall systems, your septic system and your well.

  • A list of any major home improvements and upgrades, the date of their installation and their cost (for example, the addition of energy efficiency upgrades or roof repairs) and permit confirmation (if available).

  • Find copies of the current listing agreement, broker's data sheet and, if the sale is "pending", the purchase agreement.

  • Information on "Homeowners Associations" or condominium covenants and fees.

  • A list of "proposed" improvements when the property is being appraised "as complete".

Once your appraiser has arrived, you do not need to accompany them along on the entire site inspection, but you should be present to answer inquiries about your property and be willing to point out any home improvements.

Here are some other helpful tips:

  • Accessibility: Appraisers are very detailed in their inspections. We recommend that all areas of the home are accessible, especially the attic and crawl space.

  • Housekeeping: Appraisers see quite a few of homes a year and are no strangers to clutter, but they're human beings too! A good impact can mean a higher home value.

  • Maintenance: We often suggest fixing 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, we strongly recommend to ask your appraiser if there are specific things that should be done before they arrive. Some things they may recommend might be: installing smoke detectors on every floor of the home and especially near bedrooms, where paint is peeling it should be scraped and repainted, eliminating pull-chain lights in areas other than the basement or attic.