05/10/2026
APPRAISAL CHANGES ARE COMING: HOW REAL ESTATE AGENTS CAN PREPARE....
The appraisal process is becoming more data driven. Accurate MLS information, complete documentation and an explanation of buyer behavior will matter more than simply handing the appraiser three high sales.
Here are nine ways agents can prepare:
1. Improve MLS data quality
Accurately report gross living area, above-grade and below-grade space, bedroom and bathroom counts, renovation dates, condition, concessions, ADUs, finished basements, garages and acreage.
2. Document improvements specifically
Instead of writing “beautifully renovated,” provide a dated list:
• Kitchen remodeled in 2024
• Roof replaced in 2022
• HVAC replaced in 2025
3. Separate above-grade and below-grade space
Do not combine finished basement space with above-grade living area. Verify measurements against ANSI standards whenever possible.
4. Disclose all concessions
Provide the actual dollar amount and explain what it covered—closing costs, a rate buydown, repairs or personal property.
5. Prepare a factual appraisal package
Include:
• Signed contract and all addenda
• Concession details
• Floor plan or measurements
• Improvement list with dates and costs
• Permits, when applicable
• HOA or condominium information
• ADU documentation
• Three to five relevant sales, with a brief explanation of why each property competes with the subject
6. Explain the market—not just the price
Identify competing neighborhoods, school boundaries, acreage expectations, new-construction competition and special influences such as waterfront or golf-course locations. Help explain how buyers behave in that particular market.
7. Make the property accessible and photo-ready
The appraiser may need more extensive interior and exterior documentation. Provide clear access to mechanical systems, attics, crawl spaces, outbuildings and ADUs.
8. Do not pressure the appraiser toward a number
Agents may provide factual information and relevant market data, but the goal should be to help the appraiser understand the property—not to demand a predetermined value.
9. Review the appraisal promptly
If information is incorrect, use the lender’s Reconsideration of Value process. Identify specific factual errors or provide genuinely superior comparable sales. “We need the contract price” is not supporting evidence.
The takeaway: Better data and better documentation give the appraiser a clearer picture of the property—and give agents a stronger foundation if the appraisal needs to be questioned.
