If you are thinking about selling or refinancing your home, you will need to get an appraisal to help determine the value of the home. During the appraisal, they will look at the size of the home, condition, as well as its amenities to help determine its value compared to other properties on the market that have recently sold. It’s no secret that you want your home to be appraised at the highest possible value, so it’s a good idea to do what you can to make sure that it is.

Looks Can Be Value Increasing

One way you increase your home’s value is to make it look as good as possible. This doesn’t mean you have to spend lots of money on a professional stager, but you can take note from them and follow their lead. There’s plenty of shows on HGTV that discuss the best way to stage a home, so you can take some of those tips and put them into practice.

One way you can do this to take as much clutter from the home as possible. If you remove many of the personal effects in your home, it can make it look more ready to purchase therefore increasing its value and giving potential buyers a blank canvas to consider their own.

First Impressions Are Important

The moment the appraiser steps onto your property, they are considering everything they see so be sure that the outside looks just as good as the inside. You’ll want to make sure your yard is tidy and well kept at least a couple weeks in advance. Be sure to remove any dead trees or bushes that can take away from the beauty of your home’s appearance.

You can also do quick fixes, like repairing walkways or even just putting numbers on the mailbox to make the home look ready for purchase.

Look How Far We’ve Come

Many homeowners take a lot of pride in what they’ve done over the time they’ve lived there especially if it’s been extensive. It’s important to make sure the appraiser is aware of all ways you’ve made the home better and increased its value so don’t be afraid to point them out.

It’s important to be mindful of your behavior with the appraiser as well. You want to be a subtle guide there to answer questions, but not impede in their appraisal. One thing that could be helpful is pointing about other homes in the area that have sold as a comp since they may not be as familiar as you are with the territory.

Know Your Value

When you hire an appraiser, their appraisal belongs to you, and if you’re refinancing and the lender hires the appraiser, you have rights to that appraisal as well. Be sure to review any appraisal for errors and check for comps too.

What’s Your Home Worth?

If you’re thinking about selling or refinancing, getting a proper appraisal is the first step to getting the best value for your home. Don’t be afraid to reach out to our team at North Star Mortgage Network Inc in Jacksonville, FL for assistance today!