Preparing for an appraisal from WS Watson Inc.

	Legally, an appraiser must be state licensed to perform appraisals prepared for federally related transactions - i.e. transactions related to Fannie Mae, FDIC, etc. Just give us a call at 9186385497 if you have any questions about the appraisal process.

To make your appraisal process go as smoothly as possible we generally recommend to have these documents, if available, ready for the appraiser:

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

• Any records on the purchase of the property for the last three years.

• Written property agreements, such as a maintenance easement for a shared driveway.

• List of personal property to be sold with the home.

• Any documents, such as a Title policy with information on encroachments or easements 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 amount of their purchase and date of their installation (for example, the addition of central air conditioning or roof repairs) and permit confirmation (if available).

• Locate copies of the current listing agreement, broker's data sheet and, in the event of a pending sale.

• Any "Homeowners Associations" agreements or, if applicable, condo agreements or fees .

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

When the appraiser has arrived, you do not need to escort him or her along on the entire site inspection, but you should be present to answer questions about your property and identify any home improvements.

Here are some other helpful suggestions:

• Accessibility: Appraisers are very meticulous in their inspections. We recommend that make sure that all areas of the home are accessible, especially to the attic and crawl space.

• Housekeeping: Appraisers see a lot of homes a year and aren't surprised at seeing a bit of clutter, but they're human beings too! A good impression can mean a better value for your home.

• Maintenance: We generally recommend fixing minor things like leaky faucets, missing door handles and trim.

• FHA and VA Inspection Items: If your borrower is applying for either an FHA or VA loan, we strongly recommend to ask your appraiser if there are specific things that should be done before they arrive. Some items they may recommend might be: having smoke detectors on all levels (and especially near bedrooms); where paint is peeling, it should be sanded and repainted; eliminating pull-chain lights in areas other than the basement or attic. And lastly, the appraiser will need to look at the attic and crawl space areas, too.