A few simple things ahead of time make the visit quick, thorough, and stress-free.
Thanks for having me out to appraise your home. None of this is required — but a little preparation helps me see everything clearly, get in and out efficiently, and give your property its fair and complete evaluation. Here's what helps most.
Getting me in and around the property
Please unlock gates, sheds, outbuildings, and garages so I can access the full property.
Make sure I can reach the electrical panel, water heater, and furnace or HVAC.
If there's no street parking or parking is tight, freeing up a spot is much appreciated.
I love animals — but securing or crating them keeps everyone comfortable and helps me not miss anything.
Quick answers, no paperwork needed
Let me know if any additions or converted spaces — a garage conversion, an added bedroom, an ADU — were permitted. Just what you know is plenty.
Tell me whether any solar system is owned, leased, or on a power purchase agreement (PPA).
If the living area, bedroom count, or bathroom count differs from public record, let me know — and if you know why (a permitted addition, a converted space, a records error), tell me that too.
If I can't see it, I can't credit it
Turning lights on ahead of time is a big help. Switches can be hard to find — or what looks like a switch runs the garbage disposal — and some lights are controlled at the lamp or by a remote I can't find in the dark, or tucked behind a door or towel.
Open blinds and shades so each room's features are easy to see.
Please make sure every bedroom, bathroom, and living space is accessible and easy to enter.
The value that doesn't show on a walkthrough
Point out valuable work I might not see: a new roof, re-pipe, updated electrical panel, foundation repair, new HVAC, added insulation, or upgraded windows.
So there are no surprises
I usually start outside, walking the perimeter of the home, then return to the front door to come in.
I take a lot of pictures, so I'm not there very long — I fill in my notes afterward.
I'll remove my shoes before entering your home.
Relax — and give me a little room
There's no need to clean or declutter. It doesn't affect the appraisal.
I'll be taking wide-angle photos in every direction. A bit of space helps — standing close by can block the very things I'm trying to capture.