Fox & Associates Appraisal Services, LLC's appraisal to-do list

	By law, you, as a borrower, are are entitled to obtain a copy of the completed appraisal report from the lender. 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).

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

• Written property agreements, such as a maintenance agreement 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.

• Title policy that describes encroachments or easements.

• A bill for your most recent real estate taxes which should also contain a legal description of the property.

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

• Brag sheet that lists major home improvements and upgrades, the amount of their purchase and date of their installation (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 "suggested" improvements when the property is being appraised "as complete".

Once your appraiser has arrived, you do not need to escort him or her along on the entire site inspection, but is usually helpful be available to answer questions about your property and be willing to point out any home improvements.

Here are a few other helpful recommendations:

• Accessibility: Appraisers are very detailed in their inspections. 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 will look past most clutter, but they're human beings too! A good impact can translate into a better home value.

• Maintenance: We suggest repairing or replacing things like leaky faucets, missing or damaged doors, door handles, lighting fixtures, missing or damaged trim, broken windows, peeling paint (should be scrapped, primed and repainted) etc.

• FHA and VA Inspection Items: In the case of your borrower 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 come. Some items they may recommend might be: having smoke detectors on every floor of the home and especially near bedrooms, ensuring there are electrical receptacles in every room and that each outlet works, eliminating pull-chain lights in areas other than the basement or attic.