Does Clutter Affect a Home Appraisal? [An Appraisers Opinion]

Last updated on April 19th, 2024 at 06:18 pm

Are you selling or refinancing a “lived-in” or cluttered home?

If so, you might be a bit nervous about the appraiser coming out to put a value on your property – knowing that this number can sometimes make-or-break a deal.

I get asked this question often when I call to schedule an appraisal appointment –

“Does clutter affect a home appraisal?”

Well, I’m here to put your mind at ease and tell you not to worry too much about clutter or a messy home.

That said, there are a few things you should consider when it comes time for the appraisal inspection, which I’ll also cover.

The fact is this: Clutter will not have a significant impact on the appraised value of your home. Appraisers are trained to look past things like personal belongings, messy rooms, and clutter in general. They will be focused on the things that DO impact value, such as the size of the home, its condition, quality, amenities, and other market factors that aren’t impacted by clutter.

In fact, it’s quite common for homes to be partially packed up, furniture already gone, and rooms a bit messy by the time the appraiser comes to view the house.

Let’s dive a little deeper into what you can expect and what things you should consider doing if your home falls into the “cluttered” category.

An appraisal is a certified appraiser’s opinion of your home’s market value. Having an appraisal done is a standard and often required step in the home-buying or home-selling process.

Lenders use the appraisal report to make sure the property is worth, at a minimum, the amount being loaned out.

The appraiser will view your home, take notes, photos, and measurements, and then use this data to analyze how your home compares to similar properties in the area that have recently sold.

The appraiser will also consider other external factors like the current housing market, how close you are to amenities, schools, or commercial areas, and economic factors. 

The result is a comprehensive report which is then provided to the lender. The “appraised value” of your home is the conclusion of this report and helps determine how much money a lender will approve for your loan. 

Appraisals are widely considered to be the most accurate form of determining a home’s value, as they are based on objective, current data and years of experience within a particular market, rather than personal interests or emotions.

Appraisals serve a variety of purposes, including for lending or mortgage transactions, refinances, divorces or estates, challenging a tax assessment, etc. 

Without a proper appraisal, lenders can’t confidently loan money, buyers might overpay, and sellers could undervalue their property. 

Essentially, an appraisal acts as a safety net for all parties.

When the appraiser comes to view your home, they will generally have a process down that they like to follow. This will involve walking through the home, taking notes, measuring, taking photos, and checking functionality of various components. 

I’ve read many blogs that advise homeowners to do a deep clean and tidy up every nook and cranny of the home.

While you of course are free to do this (I do this myself whenever someone comes over – I get it), removing all traces of the fact that you live there isn’t necessary. 

Here’s what matters to the appraiser:

Luckily, none of the above primary factors are generally impacted by a messy house.

The ultimate goal is to get a clear-eyed assessment of your property as a whole and how buyers would react to it. 

The main components of your property are what the appraiser will be focused on. This includes room counts, finishes, recent renovations, HVAC systems, and overall condition and quality of permanent features. 

Now, getting your space appraisal-ready might seem daunting, but it’s not necessary to make the home “show ready” as if potential buyers are viewing it.

Give the home a quick once over if you’d like to – take out the trash (change the cat litter) so the home smells pleasant, and make sure areas are accessible for viewing.

If your home has special features, make sure they stand out.

Turn lights on, open doors, and try to make your home’s best features easy to appreciate.

Whether or not your home is clean and tidy will NOT impact its overall value. 

However, it’s not a horrible idea to present your home in a way that is pleasing and shows that it’s been cared for.

If you are a bit OCD like me when people come to the house, take care of the basics like vacuuming, wiping down surfaces, washing the dishes, etc., but there is no need to go overboard. 

It’s not necessary to spend excessive time or money on deep cleaning every nook and cranny, even though many online sources will tell you otherwise. 

Make sure all areas are accessible and visible, including basements and attics. The appraiser may need to take a look at these spaces, so it’s important to make them easily accessible.

Ensure that any outdoor features like decks, porches, and patios are also easily viewable and free of big bulky items that block the view of flooring, etc.

Appraisers will take note of the overall impression and maintenance level of the home. If there are any visible signs of deferred maintenance or neglect, it could negatively impact your appraisal.

It’s a good idea to fix any minor repairs before the appraiser comes out. This can include things like leaky faucets, cracked windows, areas of missing trim, or damaged walls.

An over abundance of small issues can add up in an appraiser’s mind and affect the overall quality or condition rating given.

An easy way to make sure the appraiser knows about how you’ve maintained or improved your home over the years is to provide them with a list they can take with them.

Include things like components that have been replaced, energy efficient upgrades, improvements or special features added, or maintenance items like the furnace being serviced or septic being pumped regularly. 

This can be a simple list you jot down on paper – don’t feel the need to create elaborate spreadsheets or have receipts on hand.

Clutter tends to be a normal part of home life for most of us, but there are situations that are beyond “normal” which can have a negative impact on value.

An overload of personal items crammed into every corner or blocking any visible portion of the floor can make your space feel smaller and more confined.

In addition, it will be difficult for the appraiser to see the condition of the floors or walls if the space is too cluttered.

Items blocking safe access to parts of the home or making rooms completely unusable can also be a red flag.

It’s important for safety (also something the appraiser must consider) that living areas are easily accessible in case of an emergency.

Exterior clutter: Curb appeal is important to potential buyers.

Although scattered furniture or other debris outside won’t have a significant impact on value, this can detract from your home’s curb appeal, potentially lowering its value in the minds of buyers. 

Maintaining landscaping, doors, siding, and anything else visible on the outside can generate more interest and will ultimately influence a property’s value. 

Hazardous items like noxious odors, clutter being too close to heating or electrical components, or trip hazards like loose rugs, cords or electrical wires can also have a negative impact on value and may be called out as a repair item.

So while it’s not a big deal to have personal items scattered about, make sure it’s not affecting the safety or functionality of your home.

Absolutely! Lenders will not trust just anyone to provide them with an accurate property value.

In the U.S., appraisers must be licensed or certified by the state and national registry of appraisers.

Licensure (as of 2024) requires a 4 year degree in most cases as well as required appraisal education hours, 2 years as a licensed assistant under an approved mentor or supervisor, a minimum number of required experience hours, and passing of a state exam.

Appraisers are also required to undergo a satisfactory background check prior to issuance of the license or certification.

In addition, appraisers must complete continuing education and stay up to date on industry standards in order to keep their license active.

Any licensed or certified appraiser that shows up for the inspection will have met these standards and demonstrated their expertise in determining property values.

What we’ve discovered is that clutter can affect a home appraisal in certain situations.

However, in most cases, a lived-in home tends to be a natural part of life, and shouldn’t give you reason to worry about any affect on the homes appraised value.

Follow the basic steps noted above to make sure the appraisal inspection goes smoothly, and you should have nothing to worry about!

What was your last home appraisal experience like?