Some nice hints to save you time on your appraisal from Mid-Ohio Appraisal Services


	To appraise a property, an appraiser is required to be licensed by the state when it's a federally related transaction. Just give us a call at (740) 522-0011 if you have any questions about the appraisal process.

To speed the appraisal process along as quickly as possible we generally recommend to have these documents, if available, ready for the appraiser:

A survey or plot map of the property and building (if available).
Any records on the purchase of the property for the last three years.
Written property agreements, such as a maintenance easement for a shared driveway.
A list of any personal property that will be left behind and sold with the home, such as an oven, or a washer and dryer.
Title policy that describes encroachments or easements.
Most recent real estate tax bill and or legal description of the property.
Home inspection reports, or other recent reports for termites, EIFS (synthetic stucco) wall systems, septic systems and your well.
Brag sheet that lists major home improvements and enhancements, the date of their installation and their cost (for example, the addition of energy efficiency upgrades or roof repairs) and permit confirmation (if available).
Find copies of the current listing agreement, broker's data sheet and, in the event of a pending sale.
Any "Homeowners Associations" agreements or, if applicable, condo covenants or fees.
A list of "suggested" improvements if the property is to be appraised "as complete".

Once your appraiser has arrived, you do not need to accompany him or her along on the entire site inspection, but generally you'll want to be available to answer questions about your property and identify any home improvements.

Here are a few other recommendations:

Accessibility: Appraisers are very detailed in their inspections. You should make sure that all areas of the home are accessible, especially the attic and crawl space.
Housekeeping: Appraisers see hundreds of homes a year and aren't surprised at seeing a bit of clutter, but they're human beings too! A good impact can mean a higher value for your home.
Maintenance: We generally suggest repairing minor things like leaky faucets, missing door handles and trim.
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 additional things that should be done before they come. Some items they may recommend might be: installing smoke detectors on every floor of the home and especially near bedrooms, ensuring there are electrical receptacles in every room and that each outlet works, repairing any faucets that leak or drip, replacing broken glass.