Some useful tips to expedite your appraisal from Corpus Christi Appraisal Service, Inc.

	By law, the borrower is are entitled to receive a copy of the completed appraisal report from the lender. Contact us if you have any questions about the appraisal process.

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

• A survey or plot map of the property and building (if readily available).

• Any information on the purchase of the property for the last three years.

• Information on any written private easements, such as a shared driveway with a neighbor.

• A list of any personal property that will be left behind and sold with the home, such as an oven, or a washer and dryer.

• Title policy that lists encroachments or easements.

• Most recent real estate tax bill and or legal description of the property.

• Any inspection reports, or other recent reports for termites, EIFS (synthetic stucco) wall systems, your septic system and your well.

• Brag sheet that lists major home improvements and upgrades, the date of their installation and their cost (for example, the addition of insulation or roof repairs) and permit confirmation (if available).

• Find copies of the current listing agreement, broker's data sheet and, if the sale is "pending", the purchase agreement.

• Any "Homeowners Associations" agreements or, if applicable, condo agreements or fees.

• A list of "suggested" improvements when the property is being appraised "as complete".

Once your appraiser has arrived, you do not need to escort him or her along on the entire site inspection, but generally you'll want to be available to answer inquiries about your property and be willing to point out any home improvements.

Here are a few other suggestions:

• Accessibility: Appraisers are very thorough in their inspections. We recommend that all areas of the home are accessible, especially the attic and crawl space.

• Housekeeping: Appraisers see quite a few of homes a year and aren't surprised at seeing a bit of clutter, but they're human beings too! A good impact can translate into a better home value.

• Maintenance: We generally suggest repairing small things like leaky faucets, missing door handles and trim.

• FHA and VA Inspection Items: If your borrower is trying to apply for either an FHA or VA loan, we strongly recommend to ask your appraiser if there are additional things that should be done before they come. Some items they may recommend might be: installing smoke detectors on all levels and especially near bedrooms, removing and touching up where there's paint peeling, repairing any faucets that leak or drip, replacing broken glass.