HOME APPRAISAL VALUE TIPS l HOME APPRAISAL GUIDE l HOME APPRAISALS

FREE VIDEO SERIES - HIGHEST HOME APPRAISAL VALUE

2012-05-16T09:38:00.003-05:00

Hi, I'm Sherie Smith and I'm a Certified General appraiser. That's just a fancy name that means I am qualified and experienced in appraising both residential and commercial properties with no limit on value. I love counseling with homeowners to help them understand:

1) what to expect in an home appraisal, and
2) that they aren't helpless regarding their home's value.

Most people don't realize that there ARE things you can do BEFORE your appraiser arrives that will help raise your appraisal value. Getting the highest home appraisal can also mean simply NOT LOSING unnecessary value, in other words . . . maintaining the maximum possible home value.

So I've created a FREE VIDEO COURSE to help you get the HIGHEST APPRAISAL VALUE POSSIBLE for your home. Please accept it as my FREE gift to you, just visit my website through the video link below. I wish you the best of luck on your home.

YES - I WANT TO SEE THE VIDEO SERIES - TAKE ME STRAIGHT TO THE SITE!
http://homeappraisalvaluetips.com/

See you over there!

Sherie Smith
Sherie Smith
Certified General Appraiser
Residential and Commercial

AFFORDABLE EXTERIOR LIGHTING REPAIR!

2010-06-14T13:25:00.002-05:00

Not very impressive is it? One tarnished and dull brass light!

But look at the rich dark expresso light on the left, especially how it stands out against the lighter colored exterior wall. This is the cheapest 'exterior lighting save' in the world and SO EASY to do!

If you have tarnished and ugly exterior fixtures, consider a quick paint job. Clean the glass and metal with warm soapy water. Let it dry, then give your fixture a light sanding just to rough up any remaining brassy spots. Wipe off the fresh sanded grit with a clean damp cloth again and let the fixture dry for a second time. Be SURE it is good and dry before you begin to paint.

Now use a small manageable 'flat' bristled brush, perhaps 1/3" to 1/2" wide. This should be a small artist-type brush, not the regular paint brushes from the home improvement store. Save even more money by borrowing one from your child's art supplies. No children? Ask a neighbor who has kids - I'm sure they can find a small brush to loan you.

Now paint the fixture either white, black or dark expresso brown exterior paint. Your cost? Probably around $5!

All three of these colors are super-popular now, both in interior and exterior decor colors. Your exterior fixtures will look brand new and right in style!

With a few strokes of your paint brush, your front entrance will make a much more welcoming impression on your visitors, potential buyers and your appraiser as well!

See you again soon!

Sherie Smith
Certified General Real Estate Appraiser

P.S. - Don't forget to clean and return the paint brush. You might want to borrow again sometime.

TOP LANDSCAPING TIPS FOR VALUE AND BEAUTY!

2010-06-12T12:24:00.003-05:00

Whether we want to admit it or not, the EXTERIOR of our home can make or break the INTERIOR! The interior may be absolutely stunning! It may even be professionally designed and decorated. But if the potential buyer can't get past the ugly and overgrown lawn, it won't matter one red cent. Watch this well-done video to get Top Landscaping Tips that can be as affordable or expensive as YOU choose.

LOAN GUIDELINES THREATENING HOME BUYING REBOUND?

2010-06-12T01:07:00.006-05:00

HOW TO QUICKLY PREPARE FOR A HOME APPRAISAL

2010-06-11T22:32:00.000-05:00

"Having a home appraisal done in the coming week. Any advice? Anything we should do to prepare? I'm nervous!" I found this question online recently, and the replies were shocking.

1. if you are reasonable your appraiser will likely be reasonable too,
2. there's not a lot you can do in a week's time, and
3. try to distract the appraiser from anything you are worried about.

What a diverse and disappointing reaction to that question!

The best way to add EXTRA VALUE within a short time is to finish out an existing space to increase your FINISHED LIVING AREA. That project will take a little cash and a few days of work, but it IS POSSIBLE. That's probably your best shot at adding extra value to your home.

But getting the highest appraisal is based on more than just 'adding' value. If your home is not in the best possible condition, you will 'loose' potential value. So by giving your home a good week's worth of going over, you can do a great deal to assure it is in tip-top shape when your appraiser knocks on the door.

Grab a trash bag and start throwing out junk. Typically the less cluttered and 'knick-knacky' your house looks, the more cared for and impressive it will appear, whether it be to a potential buyer or your appraiser. After you've gotten agressive with the trash bags, move on to other areas are highly visible.

Go over your home with fine tooth comb. Write down things you notice and use a critical eye! Ask a trusted friend to come over to 'inspect' your home with you. Your friend will have fresh eyes to notice things you could miss simply because of familiarity. Fix anything you see that needs attention, including even simple things like loose door handles. Small things like this are indicators to the appraiser that the home is not being cared for properly enough to retain it's potential worth.

Now roll your sleeves up and get serious. Giving your kitchen cabinet and bathroom vanity doors a good scrubbing to remove built-up grim and grease, then wiping with a soft cloth and good furniture finishing oil will make them look nearly new and possibly even of better quality. While we're talking about cabinets, make sure all hinges and knobs are tightly attached.

Now get on your knees, not to pray, although that is certainly a good idea. Give your wood floors and baseboards some serious TLC. Just like your wood cabinets, cleaning built-up grim and a good wipe with your finishing oil will make them look like new. Do the same if you have crown molding.

Unpleasant smells can also lower your appraised value as the appraiser is smart enough to know your carpet needs attention. Again, ask that friend to tell you if your home has unpleasant odors. Renting a carpet shampooer from your local store will work wonders. Be sure to purchase appropriate carpet products to remove pet odors and other unpleasant smells. For an extra few dollars, it will make a big difference.

Finally, tackle your yard and home exterior. Get a trash bag and throw out every bit of junk! If necessary, pay someone to haul off heavy objects like an car transmission or old tires. It will be money well spent. Clean your yard, wash down your porches and railings. Do a quick pressure-wash of your roof, if it looks bad. Now, just trim your shrubs back, mow your grass and set out a few colorful potted plants near your front door. Making a good first impression is always important. After all, you want the appraiser to feel YOUR home is in better condition than the sale comparables he'll use for comparison. If he's impressed enough with your home, he may give you additional value for being in better condition than the sale comps.

If you're short on time, don't be shy about asking a few friends to pitch and make the magic happen over a weekend. Reward them with a cookout later or promise to return the favor sometime for them.

Good luck!

Sherie Smith
Certified General Real Estate Appraiser