Romano & Associates's appraisal to-do list

Legally, an appraiser must be licensed by the state to perform appraisals prepared for federally related transactions. Just give us a call at 225-964-2533 if you have any questions about the appraisal process.

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

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

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

  • Written property agreements, such as a maintenance easement for a shared driveway.

  • A list of any personal property that will be left behind and sold with the home, such as an oven, or a washer and dryer.

  • Any documents, such as a title policy with information on encroachments or easements 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 wells.

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

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

  • Any "Homeowners Associations" agreements or, if applicable, condo agreements or fees.

  • A list of "suggested" improvements if the property is to be appraised "as complete".

Once your appraiser arrives, you do not need to accompany him or her along on the entire site inspection, but is usually helpful be available to answer questions about your property and identify any home improvements.

Here are some other helpful recommendations:

  • Accessibility: Appraisers are very meticulous in their inspections. Make sure that all areas of the home are accessible, especially the attic and crawl space.

  • Housekeeping: Appraisers see a lot of homes a year and will look past most clutter, but they're human beings too! A good impact can mean a higher value for your home.

  • Maintenance: We often suggest fixing small things like leaky faucets, missing door handles and trim.

  • FHA and VA Inspection Items: In the case of your borrower applying for either an FHA or VA loan, be sure to ask your appraiser if there are additional things that should be done before they arrive. Some things they may recommend might be: putting smoke detectors on every floor of the home and especially near bedrooms, where paint is peeling it should be sanded and repainted, fixing leaky or dripping faucets, replacing broken glass.