The Pinkston Group's appraisal checklist

	To appraise a property, an appraiser needs to be licensed (or better yet certified) by the state when it's a federally related transaction. Just give us a call at 831-612-1850 if you have any questions about the appraisal process.

To facilitate the appraisal process, it's helpful to have these documents ready for the appraiser:

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

• 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. (properties under contract only)

• Any documents, such as a title policy with information on encroachments or easements encroachments or easements.

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

• A list of any major home improvements and enhancements, the date of their installation and their cost (for example, the addition of insulation or roof repairs). A copy of the final permit for the appraiser to review (this is very important if there was an addition to the total gross living area).

• Any "Homeowners Associations" agreements or, if applicable, condo covenants or fees.

• A list of "proposed" improvements if the property is to be appraised "as complete".

Once your appraiser arrives, you do not need to accompany them along on the entire site inspection, but you should be available to answer inquiries about your property and identify 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 if the loan is FHA.

• FHA and VA Inspection Items: If your borrower is applying for either an FHA or VA loan, be sure to ask your appraiser if there are extra things that should be done before they arrive. Some things they may recommend might be: having smoke detectors on every floor of the home and especially near bedrooms, removing and touching up where there's paint peeling, eliminating pull-chain lights in areas other than the basement or attic.

• Be prepared to move unfriendly pet (dogs) into the home during the initial inspection phase (measuring the perimeter of your home) and then moving them back outdoors or into the garage when the appraiser enters your home.