Cleaning in prep for an appraisal?

Question

Hey BP fam,Hope y'all are staying well.

I have an appraisal coming up on a SFR for a cash out refi, and my question is this: Is it reasonable to pay a house cleaning service to do a once over of the house the day before the appraisal? Is that an overstep? Also, to request of the tenants that all lights are turned on, all rooms kept clean, etc? Of course all this for the purpose of making the best possible impression upon the appraiser.

Thanks all, appreciate it.

Steven Foster Wilson · Answer

Hi @Ian Gilligan, I literally just went through this process. The week before I prepped the property, new mulch in the beds, new flowers on the porches, grass freshly cut, everything on the outside looked perfect!

As for the inside, really that is the tenants area. You could offer them to have a cleaner come in if you explained the situation, and Im sure they would be happy, but it is a bit much to request that they leave their rooms clean and such.

One tip I have is to walk with your appraiser, before he comes get gatorade, water, and a coke, and offer any to him. Make him feel as though he is truly valued. Then as you walk with him explain all of the updates and renovations you have put into the property.

Lastly prepare a folder for him with updates, costs, and any other important notes. This will help give him the information he needs to propel assess.

Ian Gilligan · Answer

@Steven Wilson Nice, thanks Steven. I am out of state so I may or may not be there on the day. But those are all great suggestions, thanks very much.￼￼￼