As a seller, your worst fear is to watch your investment dollar shrink before your very eyes. The Doerrers from Hackettstown, New Jersey bought their home for $325,000 six years ago. Now they are asking $225,000 — but the appraiser said the house is only worth $190,000!

Real estate experts say that low appraisals look unattractive to banks because they fear the home has been overvalued and therefore, it is a risky investment. Often they refuse to to do the deal at all. The point is: appraisals matter! You want the appraiser to see value in your home so the prospective buyers see value.

It turns out, the appraiser uncovered many weak spots for this particular home — the overgrown yard, the cluttered office, and the old carpeting. After removing the furniture, replacing the rug and trimming the hedges, the Doerrers spent $1,600 on improvements. The home was appraised again — this time at $214,000 — which was much closer to their initial asking price.

Here are a few Denver home selling tips to help you get top dollar at your appraisal session…

1. Start Outside & Work Your Way In. The yard is the appraiser’s first impression of the house. Appraisers have been known to hack off hundred — or even thousands — for an overgrown lawn, lack of landscaping, weeds, and overgrown hedges. Fortunately, this type of home renovation is relatively inexpensive.
2. Update The Little Things. You don’t necessarily have to renovate your entire kitchen to add features that impress appraisers. Sometimes just adding a new faucet or light fixtures can update the look and add value.
3. Remove Clutter First. Cluttered homes can detract up to 10 percent of the value from your home. So take your time, pack your boxes and remove the junk so the appraiser can see the real beauty that lies within!
4. Invest In Modern Technology. Did you know an old TV can make an entire room look dated? Consider renting a high-end set when you show your home to get a modern, high-end look for your living room.
5. Don’t Be Sneaky. Appraisers can see through tricks like carpet-on-carpet (to cover a stain.) Rather than cutting corners or trying cheap tactics to bamboozle your appraiser, consider how to remedy the situation reasonably. Make sure you aren’t inadvertently sending the wrong signals in your choice of decor.
6. When It Comes To Furniture, Less Is Best. The Minimalist Modern design trend is really hot right now. You don’t want your place to be totally empty, but keep in mind, the  less furniture you have, the larger the space looks.
7. Be Practical & Keep It Functional. Everything in your home should work. Fix loose knobs, broken window cranks, leaky faucets and running toilets. Hiring a handyman to tackle little odd jobs will add more value to your home than you’d think!
8. Consider Lighting. Open windows and stage your home with lamps and mirrors to maximize light. There is nothing worse for show than a dark, dreary house — especially in Denver, where the winters can be long and dark!
9. Highlight The Best. If there is a feature in your home that is unique or special to you, be sure to specifically point it out. Show off added storage space, walk-in closets, sky lights, the new air purifying system, or whatever you like best about the space.
10. Eradicate Strange Smells. An unpleasant odor from animals, mold, mildew, old carpeting, or body odor can really turn off an appraiser. Bake cookies, light a candle, or consider professional cleaning before the appraiser comes.

Please contact me as your Denver real estate agent if you have a home you’d like to sell.