Why do you need to see the inside of my house?

Property condition can be deceiving when a house is viewed from the exterior only. We need to see if you have done any interior updating like a new kitchen or new baths as well as the condition of all the other interior items like the furnace, how is the flooring etc. We need to see in interior the market value of your home.

I have an appraisal that someone did 2 years ago. Why can't the lender use that?

Due to the frequent changes in the real estate market we are required to utilize recent sales preferably within 6 months prior to the date of inspection but no longer that 12 months.

My tenants apartment is the same as my apartment. Can't you just look at mine?

Although the layout of both apartments may be the same we need to look for the condition of the interior improvements to determine that they are both the same. Additionally the lender will want pictures of the kitchens and baths.

I need this appraisal to protest my tax assessment (to determine an inheritance tax or for a divorce settlement, to eliminate the Private Mortgage Insurance on my mortgage etc.) so I need it to be as low (or high) as possible.

Market value is what it is. As a Certified appraiser I am bound by the guidelines of the USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice). Failure to adhere to these standards could result in disciplinary action against my office or even the loss of my license.

I need a date of death appraisal from 2005, how do you do that?

We subscribe to various information services such as several MLS services and companies that provide information about county records that go back many years. We would utilize sales from the date of death to determine the value of your property at that time.

There are no houses like mine nearby so how are you going to appraise it?

Because houses unlike cars or manufactured homes are generally all unique we are allowed to utilize sales of properties that are considered to have similar utility like a similar sized house in a similar condition. The bottom line is that we are appraising market value and need to utilize sales that a buyer would consider as desirable as the subject property.

I am applying for a home equity loan. When will we close?

Real estate appraisers are independent contractors and have no information about any details of your loan.

Can you tell me before you leave how much my house is worth?

After inspecting your home the appraiser has many factors that need to be taken into consideration and has to adjust for all of those that are determined to affect the market value. I have no idea what the appraised value is until I've had a chance to study the available information and put it into written form.

Will you be providing me with a copy of the appraisal?

That depends. If you have ordered the appraisal for your personal use than I will be sending the final report to you. If the appraisal has been ordered by a third party like a lender for mortgage lending purposes than that party is considered to be the appraisers client and will be the only one who receives the report.