Some helpful tips to save you time on your appraisal from ValueTex Appraisal Services


	By law, an appraiser must be licensed by the state to perform appraisals prepared for federally related transactions. Contact us if you have any questions about the appraisal process.

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

A plot plan or survey of the house and land (if available).
Information on the latest purchase of the property in the last three years.
Written property agreements, such as a maintenance easement for a shared driveway.
List of personal property to be sold with the home.
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, septic systems and your well.
Brag sheet that lists 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).
Locate copies of the current listing agreement, broker's data sheet and, in the event of a pending sale.
Information on "Homeowners Associations" or condominium covenants and fees.
A list of "suggested" improvements if the property is to be appraised "as complete".

Once your appraiser has arrived, you do not need to accompany him or her along on the entire site inspection, but it's helpful be present to answer questions about your property and identify any home improvements.

Here are a few other helpful recommendations:

Accessibility: Appraisers are very meticulous in their inspections. We recommend that all areas of the home are accessible, especially the attic and crawl space.
Housekeeping: Appraisers see hundreds of homes a year and will look past most clutter, but they're human beings too! A good impression can translate into a higher value for your home.
Maintenance: We generally recommend repairing small 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, definitely ask your appraiser if there are additional things that should be done before they come. Some items they may recommend might be: installing handrails on all stairways, scraping and touching up where there's paint peeling, repairing any faucets that leak or drip, replacing broken glass.