The appraiser will come to your home and measure it, determine the layout of the rooms inside, confirm all aspects of the home's general condition, and take several photos of your house for inclusion in the report. Some think they have to make the place spotless before the appraiser comes.  Appraisers see hundreds of homes a year and will look past clutter and dust.  The best thing you can do to help is make sure the appraiser has easy access to the exterior of the house. Trim any bushes and move any items that would make it difficult to measure the structure. On the inside, make sure that the appraiser can easily access items like furnaces and water heaters.  For FHA loans make sure that all areas of the home are accessible especially to the attic and crawl space.

To facilitate the appraisal process, it's beneficial to have these documents ready for the appraiser:

• A plot plan or survey of the house and land (if readily available)
• Written property agreements, such as a maintenance agreement for a shared driveway
• Title policy that describes encroachments or easements
• Information and/or permit on septic systems and wells
• List major home improvements and upgrades, the date of their installation and their cost (for example, the addition of central air conditioning or roof repairs)
• Information on "Homeowners Associations" or condominium covenants and fees
• A list of "Proposed" improvements if the property is to be appraised "As Complete"