Preparing Your Home for Appraisal Inspection - A Home Appraisal Checklist

Sep 27, 2026

Uploaded by Ben

A home appraisal inspection focuses on what an appraiser can verify inside and outside the property, using item-by-item condition checks that affect estimated value and required follow-ups. The guidance covers exterior factors like land area, property condition, and lead or peeling paint for homes built before 1978, plus interior readiness such as functional HVAC, furnace, room count considerations, garages and basements, and completed upgrades before scheduling. It also outlines FHA and VA appraisal checklist requirements, common repair red flags, and how unresolved issues can delay or halt closing and the home buying process.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Preparing Your Home for the Appraisal Inspection

Exterior inspection items

Interior inspection items

FHA appraisal checklist and repair process

VA appraisal checklist and standards

Preparing Your Home for the APPRAISAL INSPECTION In order topreparefor a home appraisal, you need to focus on both the interior and exterior property inspection process and what an appraiser looks for during this process. EXTERIOR 􀂉 The total land area or acreage of your property 􀂉 The condition of the property 􀂉 Any lead or peeling paint, but only if the house was built prior to 1978 INTERIOR 􀂉 Working furnace 􀂉 Working air conditioning 􀂉 Number of rooms, although they will also consider windows and closets 􀂉 Garage, although it does not contribute to the square footage of the home 􀂉 Upgraded basement, although it does not contribute to the square footage of the home 􀂉 Built-in appliance upgrades 􀂉 In-ground pool 􀂉 If you have upgrades in your home, make sure they are completed before you schedule an appraisal. Unfinished projects reflect poorly on the home value. 􀂉 The same goes for the presentation of your home. While an appraiser cannot take the overall cleanliness and style into account, the estimated value of your home may be effected by holes in the wall or peeling paint. 􀂉 Based on the appraiser and the condition of your home, the appraisal can take anywhere from 25 to 45 minutes to complete. FHA Home Appraisals are slightly different. If the buyer is getting an FHA loan, many repairs must be completed prior to closing. This impacts both the buyer and the seller because the home loan process absolutely cannot progress until a few repair items are met. FHA Appraisal Checklist • Exposed floorboards and wall studs to be secured • Chipped or peeling paint, especially lead-based paint if built before 1978, must be scraped and painted • Water damage must be addressed, including any plumbing, roof or foundation issues associate with the damage • Holes in the roof or siding must be repaired • Driveway or sidewalk damage must be corrected • An outlet within 10 feet of a water source that has only a regular two-prong plug • A grounded plug or a GFI outlet designed for bathrooms, kitchens, garages and anywhere outside where you need an electrical outlet must be installed Any red flags raised during the appraisal inspection need to be fixed before closing. There are two ways to compensate an FHA repair: • The buyer agrees to pay for the repair upon the event of the seller lowering the price of the house to compensate for the cost of the repairs • The seller agrees to pay for the repair as part of the purchase agreement; all repairs must be completed before the loan can close VA home appraisal inspections have their own standards for acceptable home conditions. In addition to the standard, conditional loan appraisal requirements, VA home appraisals will require: VA Appraisal Checklist • Clean drinking water, a water heater and a sewage system • Working electricity, heating and air conditioning • Sound roofing • Sound foundation • Pest and termite inspection • Appropriate living spaces, including the bedroom, living room and kitchen Just like FHA or conventional home appraisal, any repairs or safety or health concerns will slow down and possibly put a halt to the home buying process until they are addressed by either the buyer or seller. A home appraisal must be also completed by a VA-certified appraiser, assigned by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

FAQs

What exterior factors are appraisers likely to check during a home appraisal?

They review the total land area, the property’s condition, and lead or peeling paint when the home was built prior to 1978.

Which interior systems and features should be working or completed before scheduling an appraisal?

A working furnace and air conditioning are key, along with an accurate room count, and any upgrades should be finished before the appraisal to avoid negative impact on value.

What are common FHA repair items that must be addressed before closing?

Examples include securing exposed floorboards and wall studs, scraping and repainting chipped or peeling paint (especially lead-based for pre-1978 homes), fixing water damage-related issues, repairing holes in roof or siding, correcting driveway or sidewalk damage, and installing proper electrical outlets and grounding near water sources.

What additional requirements can apply under VA home appraisal standards?

VA appraisals require clean drinking water, a water heater and sewage system, working electricity and climate systems, sound roofing and foundation, pest and termite inspection, and appropriate living spaces for key rooms. Unresolved safety or health concerns can delay the home buying process.

Sep 27, 2026

Uploaded by Ben