An appraisal is one part of selling your home in Florida. This step will provide lenders, interested buyers and yourself with an accurate idea of the value of your home. At least you hope it will.
If your appraiser comes back with a value that you know is far below your home’s actual value, you may want to challenge the findings. As long as your reasons for claiming a higher value have legitimacy and are not tied to an emotional attachment to the property, you may have a chance at changing the result.
Factors of an appraisal
An appraisal of your home involves more than a quick sweep of the property. If properly completed, a conclusion follows a detailed assessment of multiple aspects of your home. According to State Farm Insurance, some factors of an appraisal include the following:
- Records of recent home renovations
- Age, condition and size of your home
- Photographs of your property
- Information about structural issues
In preparation for your home appraisal, you may consider decluttering your space, removing personal artifacts and cleaning up your landscaping. Simple tasks like these can elevate the appeal of your home which may improve its appraisal results.
Dispute an appraisal
An embarrassingly low appraisal may have you questioning the integrity of the findings. Emotional ties to your home may influence your beliefs about its value. Your personal feelings cannot change an appraisal outcome. However, if you have evidence that facts were blatantly disregarded which resulted in an inaccurate appraisal, you can dispute the findings.
You will need to present your evidence along with supporting documents that show why the appraisal is wrong. Working with an attorney can give you the support you need to navigate the legal complexities of filing a dispute.