Beginning November 2, 2026, every new appraisal report submitted to the Uniform Collateral Data Portal (UCDP) for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac must use the updated Uniform Appraisal Dataset (UAD) 3.6 — and the date that triggers the requirement is the day the report is first uploaded, not your closing date (Atlantic Coast Mortgage). That means the property information that used to be gathered casually on appraisal day now needs to be in hand before the appraiser walks through the door. Here is the prep checklist I walk Honolulu sellers and listing agents through before every inspection.
Confirm the appraisal date and scope with your lender early
Pull permits and documentation for all major improvements
Collect kitchen and bathroom renovation records with completion dates
Document recent upgrades and their costs
Gather condition, maintenance, and repair records
Prepare energy-efficiency and green feature documentation
Note disaster-mitigation features (roofing, impact materials, storm shelters)
Clear physical access to every room and system
Make the exterior and interior inspection-ready
Pre-send a fact sheet and photo file to the appraiser
How I selected these checklist items
This list is built from the actual data fields the new UAD 3.6 report asks appraisers to complete, not from generic home-prep advice. Under the redesigned Uniform Residential Appraisal Report, appraisers report separately on interior, exterior, and overall condition; log structured detail on kitchen and bathroom updates; and capture energy-efficient and disaster-mitigation features (Atlantic Coast Mortgage). Every item below targets one of those new reporting requirements so the appraiser can finish your report without requesting follow-ups — and without stalling the loan.
1. Confirm the appraisal date, scope, and property data collection plan
Ask your loan officer for the exact inspection date and which assignment type applies — traditional onsite, desktop, or a hybrid appraisal with a separate property data collection step. The Uniform Property Dataset (UPD) governs how a property data collector records the home's characteristics, and that collector must stay independent from the appraisal itself. Knowing the scope early tells you what access the appraiser or collector needs and prevents a wasted trip.
2. Pull permits and documentation for all major improvements
Fannie Mae's December 2025 collateral guidance flags ineligible properties on safety, soundness, and structural integrity, plus inaccurate condition and quality ratings, as the two most common defects lenders must chase (Fannie Mae Quality Insider). Keep every building permit, certificate of occupancy, and final inspection sign-off on hand, especially for additions, ADUs, garage conversions, and structural work — an unpermitted improvement can turn a clean report into a repurchase demand.
3. Collect kitchen and bathroom renovation records
UAD 3.6 adds structured reporting around updates to kitchens and bathrooms, including the extent and condition of those updates. Under the new ratings definitions, a kitchen renovated "to the studs" within the past 36 months can support a C2 condition rating only if the rest of the dwelling meets the same bar — so accurate completion dates and scope of work matter. Dig out invoices, contractor receipts, and permits that prove when the work happened.
4. Document recent upgrades and their costs
Condition and quality ratings drive the selection of comparable sales, and the appraiser must justify every adjustment. If you repainted, replaced flooring, or updated systems last year, compile a dated list with costs and invoices. This gives the appraiser the factual basis to support a C3 or Q3 rating instead of defaulting to C4 — the over-conservative rating Fannie Mae says appraisers regularly assign when records are thin.
5. Gather condition, maintenance, and repair records
The redesigned report distinguishes between the interior, exterior, and overall condition of a dwelling, so a clean living room won't hide a sagging roofline. Compile your maintenance log, inspection reports, and documentation of any repairs — especially structural items like roof leaks, foundation cracks, or termite work. Fannie Mae expects lenders to supply a qualified professional's report with photos when an appraiser flags a structural concern, so having that paperwork ready avoids a repair-and-resubmit delay.
6. Prepare energy-efficiency and green feature documentation
UAD 3.6 includes a dedicated section for energy-efficient and green features — renewable energy components, building certifications, and efficiency ratings when applicable. If your property has solar panels, a heat-pump system, or a green building certificate, collect the system specs, installation date, and any utility or certification documentation. These features can move value, but only if the appraiser can verify them.
7. Note disaster-mitigation features
Hawaii sellers have a built-in advantage here: the new report also captures features that reduce disaster risk, such as qualifying roofing, impact-resistant materials, or storm shelters (Atlantic Coast Mortgage). Pull your windstorm or hurricane roofing paperwork, impact-rated window and door receipts, and any storm-hardening certifications so the appraiser can record them as value-bearing attributes.
8. Clear physical access to every room and system
A traditional appraisal requires the appraiser to personally inspect the interior and exterior of the subject property. Locked rooms, blocked closets, or inaccessible attics, crawl spaces, and electrical panels force the appraiser to either come back or mark the area as not inspected — either outcome delays the report. Walk every space ahead of time, unlock gates and utility rooms, and move storage away from panels and equipment.
9. Make the exterior and interior inspection-ready
The appraiser is taking photos of the front, rear, and sides of the home plus each interior space, so clear the yard, sweep walkways, and de-clutter visible counters and floors. Condition ratings come from a holistic view of the entire property, not isolated upgrades — deferred maintenance in one area will drag the overall rating down even if the kitchen is new. Straighten up now; it costs nothing and keeps the report accurate the first time.
10. Pre-send a fact sheet and photo file to the appraiser
The most common appraisal defect Fannie Mae cites is subject physical features reported inaccurately. Give the appraiser a one-page fact sheet listing bedroom and bathroom counts, square footage, systems ages, renovation history, and notable features, along with a dated photo set of the interior and exterior. Fewer inconsistencies on the front end means fewer corrections, fewer CU-score red flags, and a faster path to your closing.
How to choose what to prepare first
If you're working a closing that lands near November 2, the deadline applies to the appraisal report's initial submission to UCDP, not your closing date — so treat any inspection in the weeks around the cutoff as a UAD 3.6 report. Start with the documentation items (2, 3, and 4) because those take the longest to track down, then handle access and staging (8 and 9), and finish by sending the fact sheet (10) at least a day before the inspection. For most Honolulu listings, an hour of prep per item is enough to keep the appraisal — and the loan — moving on schedule.
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!