Once your home appraisal appointment is on the calendar—whether for a mortgage refinance, PMI removal, a divorce buyout, an estate trust, or a pre-listing valuation—the countdown begins. Many homeowners in Oakland, Wayne, Macomb, and Washtenaw Counties spend the night before their appointment frantically deep-cleaning closets or shampooing rugs, wondering: "What should I actually do before an appraiser comes to my house?"
As a State Licensed Real Estate Appraiser with over 20 years of experience at Michigan Appraisal Team Inc, I can let you in on a secret: You don't need to stress over museum-level housekeeping.
Instead, preparing for an appraisal is all about access, documentation, and eliminating small "deferred maintenance" items so the appraiser can accurately measure your ANSI Z765 square footage and assign strong component-level UAD 3.6 Condition and Quality ratings to your kitchen, bathrooms, interior, and exterior.
Follow this practical 10-step pre-appraisal checklist in the 48 hours before your appraiser pulls into the driveway.
1. Print a One-Page "Home Improvements & Upgrades" Sheet
This is the single most valuable 15 minutes you can spend before your appointment. Create a simple bulleted sheet listing every major repair, renovation, or mechanical replacement you have completed over the last 5 to 15 years (along with the year and approximate cost):
- Roof tear-off, new windows, siding, gutter guards, or concrete/asphalt driveway replacement
- Furnace, central air conditioning, hot water heater, electrical panel upgrade, or whole-home backup generator
- Kitchen and bathroom remodels, hardwood flooring installation, or finished basement waterproofing
2. Clear Access to the Exterior Perimeter (For ANSI Measurements)
Under national ANSI Z765 measurement rules, the appraiser must physically measure the outside walls of your home from corner to corner using a laser device or fiberglass tape.
- Unlock side yard gates in West Bloomfield, Birmingham, or Royal Oak.
- Trim back overgrown thorny bushes blocking house corners, and clear pathways around decks, patios, and walkout lower levels.
3. Unlock Every Interior Room, Basement Utility Area, Garage & Attic
An appraiser is required to view and photograph every room in the house to document layout, condition, and room counts. If you have a locked home office, a padlock on a detached garage, or storage bins stacked in front of the basement furnace room or attic scuttle hole, unlock and clear them ahead of time.
4. Verify All Utilities Are Turned On (Especially on Vacant or Estate Homes)
If you are an executor or trustee ordering a probate or estate appraisal on a vacant family home, double-check that the electricity, water, and gas furnace/heat are turned on. For mortgage appraisals in particular, non-working utilities trigger an automatic hold requiring a paid re-inspection.
5. Knock Out the "20-Minute" Safety & Handyman Fixes
Under UAD 3.6 component ratings, several small unaddressed issues can make a well-built home look neglected. Spend an hour knocking out these easy fixes:
- Replace any burned-out lightbulbs (dark rooms look smaller and hide upgrades in appraisal photos).
- Put missing plastic covers back on electrical outlets and light switches.
- Tighten loose stair handrails (and ensure any staircase with 3+ steps has a secure handrail).
- Fix running toilets, dripping faucets, or sticking interior doors.
6. Touch Up Peeling Paint (Crucial for Homes Built Before 1978!)
If your home was built prior to 1978 and you are using an FHA or VA mortgage loan, any chipping, flaking, or peeling paint—on exterior window trim, porch steps, garage doors, or basement walls—must be scraped and repainted to pass HUD lead-based paint safety standards.
7. Check Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Many lenders require visual confirmation on the appraisal report that working smoke detectors are mounted on every level and carbon monoxide alarms are installed near sleeping areas.
8. Gather HOA, Lake Privilege, or Survey Documents (If Applicable)
In Oakland County lake communities (like West Bloomfield, Commerce Township, Waterford, and Orchard Lake), let the appraiser know if your deed includes private beach access, a boat slip, or all-sports lake privileges. If you are in a condo or HOA, have the monthly association fee amount handy.
9. Crate Pets or Arrange a Quick Walk During the Appointment
Even the friendliest family dog can make it tough for an appraiser to prop open exterior doors while measuring the perimeter or walking through rooms with laser equipment. Keeping pets crated or in a secure area makes the walkthrough faster and safer for everyone.
10. Relax and Let the Appraiser Work!
Once you welcome the appraiser at the front door and hand over your 1-page upgrade sheet, you don't need to give a guided sales tour of every room. We take our measurements, capture our verification photos, and ask you any specific questions we have before wrapping up!
Ready to Schedule a Stress-Free Home Appraisal in Southeast Michigan?
At Michigan Appraisal Team Inc, principal appraiser Joe Bahri makes the entire process clear, respectful, and straightforward—whether you are a senior homeowner, an estate executor, a divorcing spouse, or preparing to sell or refinance.
- Call Us Directly: (248) 798-4446
- Email: info@michiganappraisalteam.com
- Office: 6775 Daly Road, Suite 104, West Bloomfield, MI 48322
- Get Started: Request an Appraisal Online or explore our 7 Core Appraisal Services.