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How to prepare your home for an appraisal

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One of the essential steps in selling your home is the appraisal. This gives an idea of how much the property is expected to fetch when it is put on the market.

During an appraisal, a real estate agent goes through the property and carries out an inspection. They will usually walk through each room and take notes about the condition of the property. They may also take some photos and measurements. A typical appraisal takes anywhere between 20 minutes and an hour, depending on the size.

An appraisal can be quite a stressful process, but we have a few tips on how to make it a much smoother affair.

Make sure the exterior of the property is in tip top condition

The first thing a prospective buyer sees is the outside of your property. First impressions are crucial. If they don’t like what they see as soon as they arrive, this may colour their perception of what they encounter once they are inside the property.

If possible, ensure that the paintwork of the façade is up to standard, and that there are no personal items, like toys or other items cluttering the outside space. If you have any plants, make sure they looked cared for – not rotting leaves or half-dead plants that have seen better days.

Basically, put yourself in the shoes of your prospective buyer. What would you like to see (and not see) when you are approaching the possible property of your dreams?

Prepare the interior for inspection

Although the appraiser is not there to see how clean the place is, it makes sense to make sure that the interior is clean and tidy. When your home is clean, decluttered, and organised, it shows the appraiser that you take care of your property.

You also need to maximise your home’s appeal to prospective buyers.

Organise your furnishings to show off of the highlights of your property, for example by opening curtains to show how much natural light a particular room lets in or, moving furniture around to display certain features such as traditional tiles.

Accompany the Appraiser

It’s a good idea to actually go round your property with the appraiser. This way, you can point out certain things that they might miss otherwise, such as improvements or upgrades that you have carried out to the property or its fixed furnishing which might not be obvious to the naked eye. Alternatively, you could even give a written list of these improvements or upgrades to the appraiser.

Repair those things that need fixing

Prior to the appraisal, it is a good idea to go round your property and fix anything that is broken, such as kitchen and bathroom taps, door handles, window screens, lighting fixtures and appliances.

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