What goes into an appraisal?

Acquiring a house is the most significant investment most people could ever consider. Whether it's a primary residence, an additional vacation property or a rental fixer upper, purchasing real property is an involved transaction that requires multiple people working in concert to pull it all off.
To learn more about appraising, click here to see a short video or call us today to talk about your specific property.
The majority of the people participating are very familiar. The most familiar entity in the exchange is the real estate agent. Next, the bank provides the money necessary to finance the transaction. Ensuring all requirements of the sale are completed and that a clear title transfers to the buyer from the seller is the title company.

So who's responsible for making sure the value of the real estate is consistent with the amount being paid?   In comes the appraiser.   We provide an unbiased opinion of what a buyer might expect to pay - or a seller receive - for a parcel of real estate, where both buyer and seller are informed parties. A professional licensed appraiser from  will ensure you as an interested party are informed.

The inspection is where an appraisal starts

Once you've committed to hiring a professional to help you understand the value of your home or investment the next step is the appraisal inspection. 

What to expect: We will contact you within 24 hours to schedule the appraisal inspection of your home. This is the part where we will put boots on the ground to determine things like: an accurate square footage of your home, layout, features, upgrades, remodeling, any-and all other factors that may impact it's value. There will be photos taken and generally speaking all areas of the house both in and out need to be accessible. Understand that this is not a traditional "Home Inspection" but we will identify any readily apparent issues or repairs that may be needed. 

The onsite inspection typically takes 30 minutes to an hour dependent upon the size and features of the home or property. 

Don't Worry: We get it,  having a stranger come into your home can feel invasive and many feel the need to clean, make repairs, or do other unnecessary things. But rest assured appraisers are professionals and expect your house to be "lived in". If there are repairs or updates you want to be considered in the value but haven't made them yet, we have options to make values "subject to" hypothetical repairs and alterations. So please DON"T WORRY!

The Appraisal Report

The Hard Part: The inspection is what I like to call the easy part, the data gathering and finding out what you have. The majority of time spent will be analyzing all pertinent data and putting the report together in a format that is easy to understand, informative, and thorough. We leverage the most appraisal reporting technology along with our experience to develop an unbiased value utilizing one or more approaches dependent upon the intended use and applicability.  

This report development typically takes 1-3 business days after the inspection to complete (rush available on request). We will update you along the way, and notify you once it is complete and emailed.  After you have received and reviewed the report you are encouraged to call in and discuss anything you would like.