When you are trying to sell your home, the appraisal is the figure that will determine how much you can easily sell your home for, and ultimately, how much money you can make. If you’re like most homeowners, you want this number to be as high as possible. Here’s how to get the highest appraisal for your home:

Boost Your Curb Appeal.

First impressions count, and this especially holds true in the case of having your home appraised. Prior to having your home appraised, make sure the lawn is mowed, the bushes have been trimmed, and fresh mulch has been dispersed. If you have been wanting to paint your door or outside of the home a new color, now is the time to do so. You want your appraiser to have a positive impression of the home from the first time he or she steps foot through the door.

Clean the House.

Many homeowners skip this step, but if a house is clean, it’s much easier to see the features that will ultimately lead to a higher appraisal price. Take some time to vacuum, dust, and organize your home.

Hide Clutter.

While you’re cleaning your home, make sure you’re putting away as much clutter as possible. If an appraiser is going through the home, he or she might be overwhelmed by the clutter and unable to make a fair and accurate assessment. You want to present the home in the best state possible, so that ultimately starts with reducing clutter.

Make Home Improvements.

You can easily increase the value of your home by making strategic home improvements. For example, upgrade your current countertops to granite or upgrade your current appliances to stainless steel appliances. Also, if your home is painted with any strong colors, take some time to repaint them with neutral colors.

Prepare a One-Sheet.

If you can, prepare a one-sheet with all of the pertinent information about your home. In this one-sheet, you can include information about the year in which the home was built, any notable features or facts about the home, the square footage, whether or not any renovations have been made, and what comparable homes in the area are being valued at. If you do this, your appraiser will have an easier time remembering everything that’s great about your home and will hopefully be able to assign a higher value to you.