How to Prepare for an Appraisal
A little preparation can make the appraisal visit smoother and help the appraiser see the property completely. You do not need to stage your home or make it look perfect. The most important things are access, safety, and making useful property information available.
Before the appraiser arrives
Make the entire property accessible
- Provide access to every room in the home.
- Clear access to garages, shops, detached buildings, ADUs, and other improvements that are part of the property.
- Make sure gates, fences, and exterior areas can be accessed.
- Clear the area around attic and crawl-space access points so they can be reached safely and easily.
- Unlock rooms and outbuildings before the appointment when possible.
Have improvement information ready
- Prepare a simple list of recent renovations, remodels, additions, and major replacements.
- Include approximate dates and the scope of work when known.
- Note kitchen and bathroom remodels, roofing, windows, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, flooring, siding, decks, additions, ADUs, shops, and other substantial improvements.
- If permits were obtained for additions or major work, have the permit information available if convenient.
- Point out features that may not be obvious during a normal walkthrough.
People, pets, and room access
- The appraiser needs full access to all rooms of the home. Please have rooms clear of occupants while the appraiser is viewing, measuring, or photographing them.
- Dogs should be securely kenneled or otherwise contained before the appraiser arrives. The appraiser must inspect both the interior and exterior of the property.
- Other pets should also be secured when they could interfere with access to rooms, the yard, crawl space, garage, or outbuildings.
- If tenants or other occupants are present, please make sure they know the appraiser needs access throughout the property.
Attic and crawl-space access
When attic or crawl-space observation is part of the assignment, the appraiser needs safe, readily accessible entry. Move boxes, shelving, furniture, stored items, or other obstructions away from the access opening before the appointment. The appraiser should not have to move personal property or dismantle improvements to reach these areas.
For FHA assignments, HUD requires the appraiser to visually observe attic and crawl-space areas to the extent they are safely accessible. Making those access points clear before the appointment can help prevent delays or additional inspection requirements.
Manufactured homes
- Make sure the crawl-space access beneath the home is easy to reach.
- Pull back or remove the appropriate section of skirting at the crawl-space access so the appraiser can view beneath the home.
- If the water heater is behind a removable exterior or interior access panel, remove or open that panel before the appraiser arrives when practical.
- Keep the area around the water heater and mechanical equipment clear.
- If available, have manufactured-home information such as the HUD data plate, certification label information, serial number, title/elimination documentation, or foundation information available. Do not remove or alter any labels attached to the home.
FHA appraisal preparation
FHA appraisal assignments include additional property-observation requirements. Preparing the following items in advance can help avoid preventable delays:
- Make sure attic and crawl-space access is clear and safely accessible.
- Make sure the water heater is properly secured. In Washington, this commonly means two approved straps or other code-compliant seismic restraint, as applicable.
- Make the water heater, electrical panel, furnace/HVAC equipment, and other required areas readily accessible.
- Keep utilities on unless you have been instructed otherwise. FHA and lender assignments may require observation or operation of certain systems and fixtures.
- Address obvious health or safety items you already know about, such as exposed wiring, missing handrails where required, broken windows, active leaks, or peeling/deteriorated paint on applicable older homes. Whether an item requires repair depends on the assignment and applicable requirements.
Useful information to have available
- A list of recent improvements and approximate dates.
- Information about additions, conversions, ADUs, finished basements, or significant remodeling.
- Survey or site-plan information if readily available, especially for acreage or unusual sites.
- Well, septic, private-road, waterfront, easement, or shared-access information when relevant.
- HOA or condominium dues and contact information, if applicable.
- Current leases, rent information, or other rental-property information when the appraisal assignment requires it.
- Information about owned or leased solar systems, if applicable.
- Any unusual property feature that you believe materially affects value.
What you do not need to do
You do not need to professionally clean, stage the home, repaint rooms, or make cosmetic changes simply for the appraisal. Normal housekeeping is helpful because it makes rooms easier to view and photograph, but the appraiser is valuing the real property—not judging how the home is decorated.
Quick appraisal-day checklist
- All rooms unlocked and accessible
- Attic and crawl access cleared
- Garage and outbuildings accessible
- Dogs kenneled and pets secured
- Occupants prepared to give the appraiser clear access to each room
- Improvement list ready
- Manufactured-home skirting/access panels opened where applicable
- Water heater visible and properly secured for applicable FHA/lender assignments
- Utilities on when required for the assignment
Questions before your appraisal?
If you are unsure whether something needs to be accessible or prepared for your specific assignment, contact our office before the appointment.
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Epic Appraisal was voted Best of South Sound in 2025 and 2026—a recognition we’re proud to pair with responsive communication, local market knowledge, and professional residential appraisal service.