Abacus Appraisal, Inc. 's appraisal checklist


	To appraise a property, an appraiser is required to be licensed by the state when the transaction involves any federal financial regulatory agency such as OTS, FDIC, etc... Just give us a call at (850) 377-5331 if you have any questions about the appraisal process.

To help the appraisal go as smoothly as possible we generally recommend to have these documents, if available, ready for the appraiser:

A plot plan or survey of the house and land (if available).
Records on the latest purchase of the property in the last three years.
Written property agreements, such as a maintenance easement for a shared driveway.
A list of any personal property that is part of the home and you intend to be sold with the home, such as an oven, or a washer and dryer.
Any paperwork, 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, septic systems and wells.
A list of any major home improvements and enhancements, the amount of their purchase and date of their installation (for example, the addition of central air conditioning or roof repairs) and permit confirmation (if available).
Find copies of the current listing agreement, broker's data sheet and, in the event of a pending sale.
Any "Homeowners Associations" agreements or, if applicable, condo covenants or fees.
A list of "proposed" improvements if the property is to be appraised "as complete".

When the appraiser arrives, you do not need to accompany them along on the entire site inspection, but generally you'll want to be available to answer inquiries about your property and identify any home improvements.

Here are a few other helpful suggestions:

Accessibility: Appraisers are very meticulous in their inspections. You should make sure that all areas of the home are accessible, especially the attic and crawl space.
Housekeeping: Appraisers see hundreds of homes a year and aren't surprised at seeing a bit of clutter, but they're human beings too! A good impression can mean a higher home value.
Maintenance: We generally suggest fixing minor things like leaky faucets, missing door handles and trim.
FHA and VA Inspection Items: In the case of your borrower 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 arrive. Some things they may recommend might be: putting smoke detectors on all levels and especially near bedrooms, removing and repainting where there's paint peeling, fixing leaky or dripping faucets, fixing broken windows or other glass like doors.