Miller Appraisals's appraisal checklist

By law, an appraiser must be state licensed to perform appraisals prepared for federally related transactions. Just give us a call at (419) 680-6739 if you have any questions about the appraisal process.

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

  • A survey or plot map of the property and building (if available).

  • Any information on the purchase of the property for the last three years.

  • Written property agreements, such as a maintenance agreement for a shared driveway.

  • 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.

  • Title policy that lists encroachments or easements.

  • Most recent real estate tax bill and or legal description of the property.

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

  • Brag sheet that lists major home improvements and enhancements, the amount of their purchase and date of their installation (for example, the addition of insulation or roof repairs) and permit confirmation (if available).

  • Locate copies of the current listing agreement, broker's data sheet and, in the event of a pending sale.

  • Information on "Homeowners Associations" or condominium covenants and fees.

  • A list of "proposed" improvements when the property is being 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 some other helpful 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 will look past most clutter, but they're human beings too! A good impression can mean a better value for your home.

  • Maintenance: We generally recommend fixing small things like leaky faucets, missing door handles and trim.

  • FHA and VA Inspection Items: If your borrower is trying to apply for either an FHA or VA loan, we strongly recommend to ask your appraiser if there are specific things that should be done before they arrive. Some things they may recommend might be: having smoke detectors on all levels and especially near bedrooms, where paint is peeling it should be scraped and repainted and the paint chips cleaned up, eliminating pull-chain lights in areas other than the basement or attic.