An appraiser will look to ensure that gutters are present and in good condition, and directing water away from the foundation of the house. If the gutter system is not up to par, the VA appraiser may note the gutters portion of the appraisal as “subject to” repair.
Gutters do not necessarily add to the value of your home. If you spend $2,000 on gutters, your home's appraisal value probably won't increase by $2,000. That doesn't mean they're a bad investment though. In fact, they could be one of the best investments you make for your home.
Outdated Systems, Appliances and Interiors
Updating appliances or any major systems, like plumbing, electrical or HVAC, can be costly, so if yours are outdated, it could affect the overall value of the home.
An example of improper communication would be asking an appraiser to provide a valuation that matches the asking price of a particular home. Another example could be telling an appraiser he or she will not receive future assignments if the appraisal does not facilitate a transaction.”
Water pressure must be adequate for the house. Appraisers flush toilets, turn on all faucets and ensure that both hot and cold water are working.
Similar to kitchens, bathrooms are inspected for quality, condition and materials. An appraiser looks at whether it's a full or half bath, whether it has a decent shower, updated lighting, quality counters and looks for signs of mold.
Appraisers will also look closely and itemize all appliances and fixtures installed in the home, including the dishwasher, refrigerator, washer/dryer, oven, and others. The appraiser will also be very interested in any improvements you made to your home, as well as the quality of those improvements.
Appraisers are trained to overlook clutter. Stray clothes, scattered toys, unwashed dishes, unmade beds, disorganized closets, and other items that suggest you actually live in your house should not affect an appraisal if they don't affect its structural integrity.
The appraisal professional who performs your appraisal is not concerned with whether or not your dishes are done, or your laundry is put away – these things don't affect the value of your home, and the value of your home is what an appraisal is all about.
Make sure your home's interior looks as good as the exterior and that all appliances and systems are in good working order. Spend some time decluttering and sprucing up your home with minor repairs, and be sure to prepare a list of home improvements for your appraiser.
The halo effect is one of the most common errors in a performance appraisal. This happens when an appraiser generalises one of the employee's traits and extends it to all the other aspects under review.
In most homes, the appraiser will have no reason to look in the cabinets because they do not need to open them to measure living space.
Clogged gutters can rot fascia boards and make it easier for water to enter the property and cause damage to ceilings, windows, woodwork and walls. Many of these are serious problems which can impact the structural integrity of your home and in the worst case, potentially cause thousands of pounds worth of damage.
Estimated Lifespan
Galvanized steel and aluminum gutters, the most common type of gutters, have an average lifespan of 20 years, while copper gutters, a more high-end option, can last up to 50 years.
Having gutters installed around your home is a great idea. The main purpose of installing gutters around your home is to re-route rainwater from your roof to the soil away from your home. You do not want water pooling around your home's foundation.
A home appraiser's job is to assess the condition of your home and to provide an expert opinion on its estimated market value. They examine factors such as a home's condition, comparable recent sales, and any special features that could impact the property's value.
“In general, it's nice to have somebody there as long as they don't interfere with the process,” said Graham. “Be there to answer questions and provide necessary access, but just know when to keep your distance and let the appraiser do their work.”
A certain amount of stress around this exercise is absolutely normal. It is natural to fear that a poor performance reviews will affect your future. But when the appraisal anxiety quotient is on the higher end, people may even experience insomnia, depression or mental breakdowns.
Use a melamine sponge to get any scuffs off the walls, and shampoo your carpets to remove any lingering stains or odors. Focus on the exterior of your home as well, cleaning out gutters, wiping down the outsides of windows, and perhaps even giving the floor of your garage and the sides of your house a good power wash.
Your house doesn't need to be spotless but picked up enough so that we can make our observations. We'll need to be able to see such things as the floors and countertops.
The standard, professional answer is, of course: “No, it won't affect value. Appraisers are trained to look at the structure and layout of the house, and overlook the sinkful of dirty dishes.
According to Consumer Reports, making changes to your kitchen such as new appliances, flooring or countertops can increase its value by 3-7%. If you're looking to add value to your home by upgrading your kitchen appliances, keep these features in mind when shopping: Energy efficient options.
When you have an appraisal done, the appraiser will not only look around at your home and visit each room, but he or she will be taking pictures.
At a minimum, the appraisal report must include photographs of the following: the kitchen; all bathrooms; main living areas of the property (such as the living room, family room, dining room, all bedrooms, etc.);