Some useful hints to speed your appraisal along from Anew Real Estate Appraisal

	To appraise a property, an appraiser needs to be licensed by the state when the transaction involves any federal financial regulatory agency such as Fannie Mae, FDIC, etc. Just give us a call at 9728056241 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.

• Information on any written private agreements, such as a shared driveway with a neighbor.

• List of personal property to be sold with the building.

• Title policy that lists encroachments or easements.

• Most recent real estate tax bill and or legal description of the property.

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

• Brag sheet that lists major home improvements and enhancements, the date of their installation and their cost (for example, the addition of insulation 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.

• 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".

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 be willing to point out any home improvements.

Here are a few other helpful suggestions:

• 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 a lot of homes a year and aren't surprised at seeing a bit of clutter, but they're human beings too! A good impact can translate into a higher home value.

• Maintenance: We generally recommend repairing small things like leaky faucets, missing door handles and trim.

• FHA and VA Inspection Items: If your borrower is 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 items they may recommend might be: installing a banister on all stairways, ensuring there are electrical receptacles in every room and that each outlet functions, eliminating pull-chain lights in areas other than the basement or attic.