Had a different experience myself. Built my own place a few years back, went heavy on insulation and energy-efficient windows—nothing flashy, just solid upgrades. When appraisal time came, I made sure to hand the appraiser a detailed list of improvements and even some utility bills showing lower-than-average costs. Surprisingly, it did help bump the appraisal up a bit. Not saying it'll always work, but sometimes giving them concrete numbers can shift things in your favor...worth a shot anyway.
Had a similar situation once on a smaller development I did. Initially, the appraisal came in lower than expected, so I met with the appraiser and walked him through the upgrades—especially energy-efficient HVAC and insulation. Provided him with some comparative energy usage data from similar homes I'd built previously. It wasn't a huge jump, but it did noticeably move the needle. Like you said, concrete numbers can sometimes make a difference...appraisers usually appreciate having something tangible to justify their adjustments.
That's a smart approach—did you find the appraiser was pretty receptive once you provided those numbers? I've noticed some appraisers really appreciate having solid data to back up adjustments, while others seem more hesitant. Did you run into any pushback at all, or was it smooth sailing after sharing your info? Either way, good call on bringing concrete figures into the conversation...it usually helps clarify things for everyone involved.
Glad you brought that up—I’ve definitely seen appraisers respond differently depending on their style or even their mood that day. Had one appraisal a while back where I shared detailed comps and renovation costs, thinking it'd smooth things over, but the guy seemed almost annoyed by it...go figure. Did your appraiser give you any indication beforehand about what kind of data they preferred, or did you just wing it and hope for the best? Curious how much prep others usually put into these conversations.
"Had one appraisal a while back where I shared detailed comps and renovation costs, thinking it'd smooth things over, but the guy seemed almost annoyed by it...go figure."
Haha, been there. Honestly, I've found appraisers can be pretty unpredictable—some appreciate the extra legwork, others seem to think you're stepping on their toes. Usually I prep a few solid comps and some clear renovation details, but I keep it casual unless they specifically ask for more. Ever tried asking upfront what info they'd find helpful? Might save you from getting the side-eye next time...
