Some helpful tips to speed your appraisal along from MCA Inc.

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 2818909970 if you have any questions about the appraisal process.

To make your appraisal process go as smoothly as possible we generally recommend to have these documents, if available, ready for the appraiser:

  • A plot plan or survey of the house and land (if readily available).

  • Any information 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 lists 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, if the sale is "pending", the purchase agreement.

  • 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".

When the appraiser arrives, you do not need to escort them along on the entire site inspection, but can be helpful be available to answer questions about your property and be willing to point out any home improvements.

Here are some 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 many of homes a year and will look past most clutter, but they're human beings too! A good impact can mean a better home value.

  • Maintenance: We often suggest fixing minor things like leaky faucets, missing door handles and trim.

  • FHA and VA Inspection Items: In the case of your borrower 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: having a banister on all stairways, removing and touching up where there's paint peeling, repairing any faucets that leak or drip, replacing broken glass.