• Overview
Having your house appraised might seem daunting, even scary, especially if you have never gone through an appraisal before. Knowing what the appraiser will look for when he/she arrives not only can ease your concern, but it also may help you prepare your home for the appraisal. Even a minimal amount of effort can have an impact on your home's appraised value, which can increase your equity in the home or boost the return on your investment if you plan to sell.
• Structure
Inside your home, the appraiser will look through the eyes of a prospective buyer. Taking note of what is appealing about the property. Along the way, the appraiser will be noting the essentials that make up a house, things like the material and quality of the walls, cabinets, and counters while noting their condition. The appraiser will make a note of the number, type and quality of windows and doors. The appraiser will also look for permanent fixtures installed in the home, including appliances, plumbing and lighting fixtures, and note any defects or damage found. To understand what the appraiser will look for inside and outside of your home; try to recall what you found appealing about the property when you purchased it and image what a prospective buyer would think of how the home was maintained and the features it has. The appraiser will inspect these things when determining the overall value of your home. So focus your time, attention and money on checking, repairing and/or upgrading, if necessary, the main selling features. You can ignore anything you would take with you, because the appraiser will ignore those things too.
• Amenities
The amenities installed in your home have a significant impact on the home's value. The appraiser will note what features your property does- and does not- have. These include modern conveniences, such as central air conditioning, forced air heating, smoke detectors and an attached garage. If your home lacks these features, the appraiser may value your home slightly less. The appraiser will look for additional features as well, such as a fireplace, a security and/or sprinkler system and solar panels. And he/she will consider outdoor amenities, such as an in-ground pool or a gazebo.
• Upgrades
One often-overlooked aspect of an appraisal is the work you've done on your home since you took ownership. Any remodeling completed can influence the appraised value of your home, usually in a positive way. The appraiser will examine upgrades to the kitchen, including the stove, oven, sink and faucet, countertops and other built-in appliances. Bathrooms are next on the appraiser's checklist- bathtubs/showers, toilets, sinks, faucets and lighting fixtures. If you did remodeling work on your home or hired a contractor to complete it for you, list the upgrades and the old appliances and fixtures they replaced. Give the appraiser the list and point these things out as you go through each room. Again, you should not include appliances or accessories that are not permanently installed, including your refrigerator, microwave and décor. The appraiser will ignore these items, and they do not contribute to the overall value of your home.
• Front & Back Yards
Your front and back yards are important to the overall value of your home. The foremost aspect the appraiser will consider is the size. The larger your lot, the higher your value may be. The appraiser will look for and consider landscaping, permanent fixtures (like an in-ground sprinkler system) and other features. Although mere appearance has little to do with your home's overall value, your front yard in the first thing the appraiser will see. An overgrown yard and lack of landscaping could impact the value.

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