Home appraisals are often conducted to determine property taxes and the fair market value of your home assuring the buyer, seller, and lender that the agreed price for the home is fair.
However, there are a few updates you may want to consider prior to a home appraisal—especially if you are looking to sell your home.
Life can easily become a little chaotic and the simple repairs you planned on making around your home got put on the back burner. But those little to-do’s that were left undone may negatively impact your home appraisal.
5 Updates to Knock-Out Before a Home Appraisal
The housing market has been a little unpredictable and quasi-unfavorable for buyers which is why having a professional appraiser determine your home’s fair market value can be beneficial for refinancing or selling your home.
The key is to do what you can to ensure that it appraises for as much as possible, and you don’t have to focus on big home improvements with high dollar price tags to accomplish this. Below are five updates you may want to consider knocking out prior to getting your home appraised.
#1: Spruce Up Your Curb Appeal
You may enjoy walking through a jungle to get to your front door, but not everyone does. Plus, it may give off the wrong impression—that it isn’t well kept. A few, quick things you can do to spruce up your home’s curb appeal, include:
- Mowing the lawn and pulling weeds
- Planting flowers (perhaps in some festive pots)
- Updating any mulch, rocks, or soil
- Patching and painting any cracks in the sidewalk and driveway
- Pressure washing the pavement and exterior of your home
- Repairing or replacing window screens
#2: Deep Clean The Interior
Keeping a squeaky clean home day after day can be challenging, but unclean surfaces have a way of turning potential buyers off and may lower your home’s appraisal. Take a moment to scope out the nooks and crannies, such as baseboards for scuffs, floor corners for cobwebs, dingy carpeting, etc.
Once you’ve identified the areas that could benefit from a good scrub down or a fresh coat of paint or new carpet, you should break out the multipurpose cleaner, duster, gloves, sponges, and mop and give your spaces a good, deep clean and a fresh coat of paint.
#3: Consider Any Cosmetic Repairs
You should take into account any cosmetic repairs. While they do not necessarily hinder your home’s performance, they are an eyesore and may bump down your home’s appraisal value if left undone.
Appraisers often bump down a home’s value in $500 increments, so try to focus on cosmetic repairs that will cost you less than $500 to complete which could include:
- Patching any holes in the walls
- Replacing any missing baseboard trim pieces
- Updating or replacing dingy cabinet doors
#4: Lighting & Hardware Updates
If your home has dated or dirty fixtures, such as lighting and hardware, your home may not be as desirable as a home that has a few modernized updates.
Consider making a few lighting and hardware upgrades since most appraisals are based on impressions, comps, neighborhoods, and improvements. This could be as simple as swapping out the door knobs, cabinet pulls, and light switch plates so that they are all cohesive and consistent.
#5: Consider Updating Your Windows & Doors
High-performance windows and doors can greatly improve your home’s appraisal value. Windows and doors are a part of your home’s envelope helping your home ventilate and function properly and efficiently.
If you are getting an appraisal for the purpose of selling your home, high-performance installations can also help boost its appeal to potential buyers and help you keep your asking price strong.
Is Your Home Appraisal Ready?
Whether you are wanting to refinance or sell your home, conducting a professional home appraisal can be in your best interest. However, several factors can impact the appraised fair market value of your home.
More often than not, there are a variety of simple solutions that you can take advantage of to improve your home’s appraisal value, such as updating the aesthetics, curb appeal, and installations, such as your windows and doors.
At Eastern Architectural Systems, we manufacture a complete line of custom-made windows and doors that are tested for strength and integrity and built with style in mind to exceed the requirements and challenges of today’s discerning buyers.
We have several window and door dealers located throughout the state of Florida. You can find one nearest to you here. Click the button below to learn more about aluminum and vinyl window performance to help you choose the best solutions for your home.
