As an experienced real estate appraiser specializing in our city's charming residential homes, we’ve seen it all.

The joy of homeowners when their property is appraised at a high value, and the slight frowns when the number isn’t quite what they expected.

The good news is, there are things you can do to boost that appraisal value.

Here's the inside scoop:

Understand the Local Market

Consider the house that has every upgrade you could think of: granite countertops, hardwood floors, the works.

But, its appraisal came in lower than expected.

Why?

It was priced way above other homes in the neighborhood.

Having a pulse on recent sales and comparable homes in Tulsa can be a game-changer.

The real estate market can, at times, be as unpredictable as the Oklahoma weather.

So, keep an eye on it!

We have seen significant changes over the last few years in the Tulsa real estate market as with many market areas.

Fix What's Broken

A stunning home which has a large amount of deferred maintenance can impact the appraised value.

It’s crazy how a number of miscellaneous things can add up to significantly impact the final appraised value.

Boosting Your Home's Curb Appeal

Simple touches, like sprucing up the landscape and power washing the siding can work wonders for that first impression.

However, the question arises, does this directly increase the appraised value? No. Appraisers are evaluating the overall condition of your home when compared to other homes. However, good curb appeal is often directly associated with an overall well maintained home. In general, homeowners who invest in curb appeal have also invested in maintaining the condition of their home. It is important to know, however, that appraisers are not appraising your housekeeping!

Spruce Up Key Areas

The general public will acknowledge that kitchens and bathrooms are key areas.

By updating the kitchen with tile backsplash, granite countertops, new paint and hardwood flooring, for example, you may reap considerable benefits during resale.

Think about the areas in your home that get the most traffic and consider improving these areas.

As always, when considering any updates, be sure to consider the local market area and avoid over improving your property.

Declutter and TIdy up

As appraisers, we are looking at the overall quality and condition of the home, not your housekeeping abilities. Appraisers are trained to see past an untidy house keeper, however, a clean and tidy home allows the appraiser to observe features of the home, such as hardwood floors, fresh paint, new carpet, etc.

Think About a Pre-Appraisal

We’ve been engaged by homeowners for a pre-appraisal consultation, which proved extremely helpful for the homeowner!

By identifying potential appraisal concerns beforehand, the homeowner was able to make an informed decision and know what requirements may arise during the appraisal process. A specific example would be knowing that peeling paint will be problematic if the transaction involves FHA financing.

At Measured Home Services, we've seen firsthand how valuable this step can be.

Document All Those Improvements

Throughout our experience as appraisers, we’ve encountered homeowners who hand us a paper of every improvement they’ve ever made to the house.

From a new roof, upgraded insulation, new lighting, it was all there. These lists are helpful for the appraiser to understand the condition of the home and may even be listed in the appraisal report.

It is important to know that some upgrades provide use value, meaning they provide added value for the user, but may not have a significant material impact on the overall value of the house when it comes to the appraisal.

Be Cooperative and Engage with the Appraiser

Some homeowners want to give the home tour, pointing out features they believe may have been missed if not shown to the appraiser.

Though not an necessity, being present and engaging can ensure our appraisers recognize all the features and amenities of your home.

There you have it, some tried-and-tested wisdom from us at Measured Home Services.

We’re not just in the business of numbers; as experienced property appraisers, we genuinely want you to understand the appraisal process.

Most people don’t know who to trust and what information you really need to make an informed real estate purchase decision and worried about making an purchase they will regret later.

At Measured Home Services, we show you exactly how much your home is really worth worth so that you can have peace of mind in knowing you are getting the best deal.