If you are having a home appraised because you want to buy it, a high appraisal is good because the home is probably in good shape. If it appraises badly it might be bought for less money, but it also probably means it needs repairs.

If you are trying to sell your home it will have to be appraised. The thing to do is make sure your home is in as good repair as possible beforehand. Some things affect appraisals more than others. Decorating issues, like the need for painting inside or out, can make your home look less appealing, but since new home owners will often repaint to their own preferences anyway, painting issues will probably not affect your homes value very much.

One major thing that can affect your appraisal is water damage. Any where there is evidence of water damage in or outside your home needs to be addressed before the appraisal. A small leak from a water pipe that has not been fixed can make an appraiser look closer for signs of wood, sheetrock, and mold damage. He might find something you have not.

Rust stains in tubs or sinks and under faucets can be evidence of leaking or faulty faucets. Some of these faucet leaks could be coming from pipes behind the walls. This could be a concern for water and mold damage that can not be seen.

Loose tiles or raised spots on a wood floor can also be signs or current or past water damage. This can cause concerns about mold and other wood damage underneath the hardwood or tile that can not be seen also. All things such as this should be fixed.

The attic is another place that is usually inspected by an appraiser. He will be looking for signs of water damage in the beams and insulation. If he finds any, it could mean your roof has defects and this can really affect the appraisal.

The easiest way to make sure you do not miss repairing anything that an appraiser might find later, is to use a check list for anywhere in your house that water goes in or out. All pipes, appliances, roofing, sewer lines, spigots, and sprinklers. Any thing you can think of that can cause water problems should be checked and repaired.