6 Things Appraisers Look at to Determine Home Value 

A home appraisal typically occurs when a buyer is purchasing a home with finance rather than cash. Lenders will want an appraiser to evaluate the home to determine the home’s value so that the bank does not offer more money than the home is worth. Appraisals are more of an art than a science as three different appraisers can do an appraisal for the same home and come up with three different appraisal values. This is because appraisals are relative and are based off of the appraisers educated opinion. Here are 6 things appraisers look at to determine home value: 

LOT LOCATION 

The location of a home is a huge factor in determining its value. Homes located in quiet neighborhoods in safer communities will appraise higher than homes located on busy streets or crime ridden areas.   

This is also true for homes in good school zones as this appeals to families creating greater desirability which increases the home value. 

The actual location of the lot is also very important. Having a waterfront property or a pool will cause the appraiser to value the home greater than those located on dry lots. 

SIZE 

While obvious, the size of the home matters when determining a home’s value. Larger, single family homes will appraise higher than smaller homes, townhomes, and condos. 

Two single family homes both with the same number of bedrooms and bathrooms will appraise differently if one home has more square footage than the other. The more space, the greater the value. 

The amount of yard, storage and garage space is also another determining factor. 

UPGRADES VS REPAIRS

Appraisers will look at the overall condition of the home. Has it been updated? Well maintained? Does it need repairs? Homes that have extreme damage like in cases of a leaky roof, asbestos, and structural issues will be appraised much lower than a home that is in good condition. This is because the home will require hefty repairs and cost the buyer money subtracting from the overall value. Likewise with homes that are outdated, unkept, and in disarray. 

The more upgrades a home has, the higher it will appraise as these are things that attract buyers. Sellers, be sure to make the appraiser aware of any special upgrades that were done to the home like installing a surround system, custom cabinetry, etc. as this will help to increase the home value. 

LANDSCAPING 

Curb appeal is another factor home appraisers consider. Homes with nicely maintained yards are appraised higher than homes with yards looking overgrown and poorly managed. This also includes the condition of the home’s exterior. Is the paint faded or chipping? Does the garage door look decent? Are there missing tiles on the roof? All of these factors come into play when considering a home’s worth. 

LOCAL MARKET 

Appraisers will do research on the local market to see what neighboring properties are listed at or have sold for in recent months. This helps give them a general ballpark of what a home located in a specific area should appraise at. General location to cities, schools, shopping facilities, parks, and beaches are all considered. 

MARKET TRENDS 

Last but not least, market trends. Appraisers will take a look at the demand and supply of homes in that area to determine an appropriate value. If the demand is high and inventory is low then the appraisal will be higher than if the demand is low with an abundance of inventory. 

If you want to learn more about how to increase your home value, call us, the Connie Cabral Group, today at 305.776.0899 or send an email to ConnieCabral.com 

Our team of certified luxury property specialists go above and beyond for our clients – from first contact to after closing.