DID YOU KNOW?

How Home Appraisals Really Work

• They Protect Buyers & Lenders – An appraisal isn’t about making sellers happy. It’s a safeguard to ensure the home isn’t overpriced compared to recent sales.
• Not All Upgrades Count the Same – A new kitchen? Big impact. Fresh paint in a trendy color? Nice, but it won’t add thousands to the appraisal.
• Location is King – Two identical houses can have very different values if one is near the beach, train station, or in a sought-after school district.
• Size vs. Usable Space – Appraisers focus on livable square footage, so that beautiful finished basement might not count as much as you’d think.
• Timing Matters – Appraisals look at recent comparable sales, usually within the past 3–6 months. If the market is shifting quickly (like we’ve seen this year), that can make a big difference
• You Can Appeal – If an appraisal comes in lower than expected, you don’t have to just accept it. A realtor (🙋‍♀️) can provide additional comps to challenge the valuation.