{"id":2203,"date":"2026-01-02T04:19:27","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T12:19:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=2203"},"modified":"2026-01-02T19:19:56","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T03:19:56","slug":"home-appraisal-process","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/home-appraisal-process\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding the Home Appraisal Process: A Seller\u2019s Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s natural to feel uneasy when the home appraiser shows up at your house. After all, there\u2019s a lot riding on your home\u2019s appraised value. If your appraisal comes out lower<\/a> than you planned, it could end up delaying or disrupting your home\u2019s sale. Fortunately, by understanding the home appraisal process and taking a few steps to shore up your home\u2019s value, you can cut down the chance you\u2019ll run into appraisal problems.<\/p>\n

In this article, we walk you through the role and objective of the appraisal, ways your appraiser calculates your home\u2019s value, and explain what you can do to help make sure the appraisal doesn\u2019t derail the transaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Find proven real estate agents that know your local area, and how to help you prepare for a successful home appraisal. Top-performing agents sell homes faster and for more money.<\/p>\n \n

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Home appraisal process basics<\/h2>\n

Unless you sell your home for cash<\/a> or get an appraisal waiver<\/a>, your home sale will probably include a home appraisal. During this process, a third-party appraiser will assess your home and determine the fair market value<\/a>. That final price will show the buyer\u2019s lender how much money they should be loaning to the buyer.<\/p>\n

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What\u2019s the purpose of a home appraisal?<\/h3>\n

The purpose of a home appraisal<\/a> is to protect the financial lender and buyer. It\u2019s built in as a safety net to make sure that the price of the home is a fair reflection of its actual value. That means, if you want to sell your home on schedule, you\u2019ll need the home appraisal to be at, near, or above your final agreed-upon price \u2014 which means setting the price correctly<\/a> in the first place.<\/p>\n

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When does the home appraisal take place?<\/h3>\n

The appraisal happens after the seller and buyer both sign the purchase agreement<\/a>. That means that the seller has listed the house, the buyer has made an offer on it, and the seller either accepted the offer or finalized negotiations with the buyer.<\/p>\n

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Who is the appraiser?<\/h3>\n

Your appraiser will be a third-party professional who is usually picked out by a lender. In addition to completing appraisal education courses, appraisers<\/a> can hold several different types of licenses, including:<\/p>\n