Twin City Appraisal Service's appraisal checklist

	By law, an appraiser must be state licensed to perform appraisals prepared for federally related transactions. Contact us if you have any questions about the appraisal process.

To facilitate the appraisal process, it's beneficial to have these documents ready for the appraiser:

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

• Records on the latest purchase of the property in the last three years.

• Information on any written private easements, such as a shared driveway with a neighbor.

• 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.

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

• A list of any 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).

• A copy of the current listing agreement with broker's data sheet and purchase agreement if a sale is "pending".

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

• A list of "proposed" improvements when the property is being appraised "as complete".

You do not need to accompany the appraiser along the entire inspection, however, it is helpful for you to be present to answer questions about your property. To save time and increase accuracy, a list of recent home improvements is best created before the inspection. The appraiser will observe the property during their walkthrough, however, it is difficult for homeowner's to remember the amount (and date) of recent improvements.

Here are a few other suggestions:

• Property Access: Appraisers are very thorough in their inspections. Measuring a property and  taking photographs are customary during inspections. Therefore you should make sure that all areas of the home are accessible, especially the attic and crawl space.

• Housekeeping: Appraisers see a lot of homes a year and aren't surprised at seeing a bit of clutter. Photographs may be taken during the inspection, however, appraisers understand that homes are made to be lived in! 

• FHA, USDA, & VA Inspection Items: In the case of your borrower trying to apply for either an FHA, USDA, or VA loan; we strongly recommend to ask your appraiser if there are additional things that should be done before they arrive.