What does a bank appraiser look for in a house?

Author: Gail McDermott  |  Last update: Thursday, May 1, 2025

On site, the professional appraiser evaluates the property in terms of location, size, amenities, and property condition. This information is used to determine their opinion of the estimated value.

What negatively affects a home appraisal?

Having outdated appliances, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems could decrease the value of your property. Dated features in your home's interior could imply that the property has not been well-maintained, which could raise concerns about any underlying issues.

What exactly does an appraiser look for?

Generally, the location, age, size, amenities and condition of a home, along with comps, are the key factors the appraiser uses to determine value.

What does a bank appraiser look at?

Like a real estate agent, an appraiser looks at recent sales of homes, especially those that are similar in size and location to the home being purchased. Their sale prices are usually the most important factor.

Does a messy house affect an appraisal?

No. Appraisers are not influenced by the cleanliness of the home they are appraising.

What does the appraiser look for?

Does an appraiser look in every room?

Your lender will reject your refinance request if the appraiser gives your house a market value that is too low. An appraiser will evaluate the interior and exterior of your home to determine its market worth. In turn, this includes a tour of your entire home, including your bedrooms.

What not to say to an appraiser?

In his post, he lists 10 things as a Realtor (or even homeowner), you should avoid saying to the appraiser:
  • I'll be happy as long as it appraises for at least the sales price.
  • Do your best to get the value as high as possible.
  • The market has been “on fire”. ...
  • Is it going to come in at “value”?

How long does a bank home appraisal take?

The entire home appraisal process typically takes a few days to a week, depending on various factors. However, once the mortgage lender has selected a professional appraisal, it should take up to 48 hours for the appraiser to schedule the home visit. The appraisal can take as little as 30 minutes or up to a few hours.

Do house appraisers look in closets?

An appraiser will likely look in your closet to measure it to determine how big is it as larger closets and home with more square footage are more valuable.

What is the purpose of a bank appraisal?

Retrospective appraisals are typically used for purposes related to taxation, litigation, and estate planning. For example, you might want to know what the estimated value of a property was on January 4, 2021, when divorce proceedings began or the owner passed away.

Do you walk around the house with the appraiser?

Typically, homeowners allow the appraiser to walk through the home by themselves. You may be able to point out special features or home improvements to accentuate value before they get started, but you cannot attempt to persuade the appraiser to reach a certain value.

What increases appraisal value the most?

Options to maximize your home's appraisal value can include bolstering the property's curb appeal, documenting home upgrades, making minor repairs, deep cleaning the home and doing your own comparison analysis. It's also important to accept what you can't control.

Does an appraiser look at the roof?

They look and examine everything inside and outside of the house. On the outside, the appraiser inspects the state of your roof and foundation. The drains, decks, patios, balconies, and windows are also examined. Many of the appraisers are looking for signs of wood rot, dampness, or pest infestations.

Do appraisers look in showers?

Bathrooms

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.

What will fail an appraisal?

Issues such as property condition, market value discrepancies, or required repairs can significantly impact the outcome of an appraisal. By proactively addressing these potential concerns before the appraisal, you can increase the likelihood of a successful result and avoid delays in your home purchase or sale.

Do appraisers look in the garage?

Yes, an appraiser will look in the garage. They need to determine the space (how many cars it can hold) and include it in the official appraisal.

How to pass an appraisal?

By
  1. Be sure to have any safety equipment installed and working properly. ...
  2. Walk around your home before the appraisal with a critical eye. ...
  3. Inform your home appraiser of any home improvements you have done on your home. ...
  4. Do some sprucing up. ...
  5. Do some research on other homes in the neighborhood. ...
  6. Clean your heart out.

Do appraisers look at windows?

Interior Condition

An appraiser will look closely at key components like doors, windows, flooring, plumbing and the electrical system. If these important components are showing signs of wear and tear, the appraised value of the home will likely drop.

Do home appraisers flush toilets?

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. The water heater must be in working order and strapped according to local code. Attics and crawlspaces are to be viewed at minimum from the shoulder up by the appraiser.

What happens when a bank appraise a house?

A bank compares the value from the appraisal or evaluation to the requested loan amount to determine whether the value of a property securing a loan provides adequate collateral protection for the bank. This helps to limit the bank's losses if the borrower defaults on the loan.

Who gets the appraisal report first?

The appraisal report is sent to the mortgage lender for review and underwriting. The lender compares the appraised value to the purchase price the buyer has agreed to pay. If the appraised value is equal to or higher than the offer amount, the loan will move forward and possibly get approved.

How long after bank appraisal is closing?

The appraisal to closing timeline may vary, but it generally takes two to five weeks to close after completing the home appraisal. How fast can you close on a house? While closing on your new house sooner than the average 43 days is possible, it requires a streamlined closing process.

Do appraisers look for mold?

As soon as I stepped into the garage, I could smell it. That telltale odor of mold. It's a musty, stale smell and pretty unmistakable. For an Appraiser, this is an immediate red flag.

Do I have to leave my house during an appraisal?

During the appraisal process, a licensed appraiser will visit the home and review MLS sales data in order to render an opinion on the property's value. Unlike the home inspection, we very often advise our sellers to be present when the appraiser visits their home.

Do appraisers go in the attic?

Inspection:The attic must be examined whether access is by pull-down stairway or scuttle. At a minimum, the appraiser must enter head and shoulders into the attic.

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