There are three types of appraisal that appraisers employ – the VA, FHA and conventional appraisals. Professional real estate appraisers have real estate appraisal licenses that allow them to practice their profession. To be able to get this license, potential appraisers must attend classes and take and pass the state exams. However, even after getting their licenses, appraisers still need to take more classes to become certified appraisers for VA loans, FHA loans and others. Apart from state accredited schools that offer courses on different subjects on real estate appraising, online courses are also available on the Internet.

Real estate appraisal courses offered by schools on the Internet include different areas of study, which usually includes the National Standards of Professional Appraisers (USPAP), lessons on how to use the Uniform Residential Appraisal Report, Real Estate Math, FHA Appraisal, OREA Information, State Appraisal Licensing Information, and License Renewal Information. Other additional courses offered by some schools also include Residential Real Estate Appraisal, and Legal Considerations in Appraisal.

Review courses to help future appraisers pass the state exams are also offered by the schools, which come in the form of practice exams and tutorials. These courses are often delivered through various software, CDs and virtual tutorials that future appraisers can access on their personal computers right at the comfort of their homes. As with other real estate courses offered online, future appraisers are also given the opportunity to study the different appraisal laws and principles in other states.

Real estate appraisers are also required to renew their licenses and they do so by taking another set of exams. Online schools also offer help in this process by helping the appraisers upgrade their skill by offering additional courses like Income Property Analysis and Home Inspection. Given all of these, it is clear that online real estate appraisal courses offer a wealth of information for appraisers that can help them practice their profession.

Getting ready for an typical real estate appraisal of a home is not complicated. Once the loan application has been approved, an appraiser is assigned to the property either by the lender, or in the case of loans for veterans, by VA itself.

The lender must provide the assignment order form along with a sale contract. Recent changes in the law require that appraisers dealing with a sale situation must review and analyze the sale contract. Refinances and other types of requests will of course not have a sale contract.

Ready access to the property must be available to avoid delays. Most appraisers are members of the local Board of REALTORS and normally possess a lock box key. This helps the tenant feel more secure since they are already familiar with the agent.

It is always helpful for home owners to have their homes clean and in order. Appraisers are by tradition looking at a home from the viewpoint of a buyer, so a good impression is important. By the same token, appraisers often encounter a home when the owner is in the process of moving out, so boxes and other items are sometimes in disarray. This is okay. Appraisers understand this and are more concerned about being able to have full access to all areas, including the garage, than how the moving items look.

The appraiser is likely going to need to take measurements of the interior of the garage and look into water heater and AC closets, so be sure these areas are as clear and accessible as possible. The appraiser’s worst enemy (next to a thunderstorm) is thorny or impassible shrubs or trees next to the house. They need to be able to use a measuring tape along each outside wall.

Copies of seller disclosure notices are always welcome along with lists of recent sales and other marketing information. It’s hard to give an appraiser too much information. Especially useful is a copy of a recent survey.

It is not normally necessary for the owner to be absent during the appraisal. Most appraisers don’t mind if someone is there, especially when there are pets around. Burglar alarms should always be left off if the appraiser is allowed to visit the home when no one is there.

Real estate appraisers are pretty easy going folks. They want and need your cooperation as much as you do theirs. The modern appraiser typically approaches a job with an open mind.