Archive for the ‘Appraisers’ Category

What An Appraiser Considers When Valuating Property?

Monday, November 30th, 2009

Many people understand what appraisals are but do not know what the appraiser considers in determining the value of a property. If you knew this information, you can know what to work on in order to increase the value of your house.

Appraisers may look at different aspects of the property when doing an appraisal. However, there are a couple of common things that all appraisers consider. If you improve some of these, there are high chances that the value of your house would increase.

First, check the condition of your house. How do the walls appear, are they dilapidated and cracking? Such walls will decrease the value of your house. Therefore, make quick renovations before the appraisal is done. Seal all cracks and apply a new coat of paint on the wall. This will increase the value of your house.

Next, check your floor, is it cracked? If it’s carpeted, what is the condition of the carpet? If the floor looks old, a new carpet or wooden cover would increase the value of your house. The floor is an integral part of the house and the appraiser will consider its condition when valuating the property.

You can also make changes on the windows. Replace broken or cracked windows with new louvers. If you have window guards, ensure they are painted and look presentable.

The condition of your roof also affects the value of your house. Repair leaking roofs and remove any growths over it that may make it look old. Remember, the appraiser does not have any rigid rules when valuating your house and plant growths on the roof may make him think the roof is old.

If you have a basement, a quick renovation may significantly increase the value of your house. If you have the money, give the basement a good finish and paint it. The basement is valuated depending on how it is finished, its size, and the local county regulations.

Finally, make your house presentable. While the appraiser is not there to evaluate how neat your house is, a cluttered house can make a new house appear older than it really is. You do not want the value of your house to be compromised due to untidiness.

Help A House Appraiser Value Your Property Smoothly

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

It is very important to know how much your property is worth. This is especially true if you want to sell it. There are various ways of determining the value of your property. You can determine it based on the amount of property taxes you pay or you can arrange with your real estate agent and have a house appraiser come and evaluate the home. It is advisable to go for a professional appraisal as most lenders and realtors will require one.

There are many places you can get appraisers. Some operate independently while some are employed by banks and other lenders. Moreover, there are others who work in realty companies. The easiest, cheapest and quickest way to get an appraiser is to simply search on the internet. There are many sites that list appraisers. One of the leading ones is RealEstateAppraisersList.com. The site has a huge database of appraisers from all over the country who are registered in their various states. To make your work easier, there is a search box at the website that enables you to search for appraisers in the geographical location that you want.

To make your appraisal go smoothly, keep the following tips in mind:

Ensure that your house is clean and neat before the appraiser stops by. You do not have to make it sparkling clean as if you are expecting a king. Simply, let it appear presentable. This will help the appraiser determine the true value of the house. A cluttered home can appear shabby even though it may be very beautiful. Ensure that you have replaced all creaky floorboards; lose hinges as well as dripping faucets. This will improve the value of the property and can help you secure more financing from a lender. Keep in mind that lenders will approve your loan based on the value of your house. The higher its value, the more chances you have of getting approved for the loan.

You do not have to make phones calls or make your way to offices in the city to look for appraisers. Simply search for a house appraiser at RealEstateAppraisersList.com and you are sure to get one based in your area that will be willing to appraise you house.

How Appraisers Determine The Value Of Property?

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

When seeking refinance or are thinking of buying or selling your house, you will have to carry out an appraisal to determine the value of your property. This is important as it enables the lender to determine whether it would be viable to lend to you. If your property’s value is higher than the loan you are asking for, there is a good chance you will be get the loan. Appraisers carry out appraisals in different ways. The most common ones are the Cost approach, Comparative Sales approach, and Income approach.

When using the Cost approach, the appraiser sets the value of the house by estimating how much it would cost to build a similar property using similar construction methods and equipment. He also considers the value of the land on which the property would be constructed.

In the Sales Comparative approach, the appraiser notes the price at which similar houses in the neighborhood were sold during the last one year. The typical price of the houses shows the buying behavior of the buyers in the current market and affects the frequency at which houses are bought. The appraiser will walk around the neighborhood and identify houses that have nearly the same square footage as you property, have the same number of bathrooms and bedrooms, garage size, size of basement, similar accessories like central air conditioners, and so on.

Since there are no two houses that can be exactly the same, the appraiser will take note of the differences when estimating the value of your house. There are also some things that may have made a comparable house to be sold at a higher or lower value. For instance, a house whose floor has been replaced by a new carpet or wooded floor would increase in value. All these things would be considered by the appraiser.

Finally, the Income approach is used on buildings or property that has a potential of generating income. Such properties include those that are intended to be leased or rented out. This method is mostly used to determine the value of commercial buildings.
Appraisals should be done by qualified professional appraisers such as those listed at RealEstateAppraisersList.com.

Ways Of Getting The Most Of An Appraiser

Friday, November 20th, 2009

An appraiser plays an important role of evaluating a property that is on sale or one that is to be sold. Moreover, his valuation of the property is a big determinant on whether you will secure refinancing from a lender. With his evaluation being very important, how can you ensure you benefit from the appraisal report he will come up with?

To begin, the appraisal report is a formal document that shows how much your property is worth and also outline the methods and considerations taken by the appraiser in coming up with the property value. The higher the value of your property, the more you stand to gain if you are selling or considering refinance.

Usually, the appraiser will come and inspect your property before concluding what its value should be. It is important to get an appraiser who is experienced in appraising property in your neighborhood. Avoid those who are inexperienced or have no idea of the property prices and buying trends in your area. You want to get the best appraisal value of your house and an experienced appraiser is likely to inspect and note small aspects that may add value to the house that an inexperienced appraiser wouldn’t notice.

The appraiser will record the details of the property on the appraisal report. The features and condition of the house and the characteristics of the neighborhood will be recorded. The appraiser does not consider the furniture or other accessories in your house. He looks at the structure of the home; the walls, fireplace, bedrooms, baths, garage, and so on. Some appraisers will take a few pictures of your house so it would be advisable to have the house a little bit neat.

During the inspection, be quick to point out renovations that you think can improve the value of the house. Things like a new roof, new windows, wooden floor or new carpet, air conditioning system, renovated basement, and such can increase the value of your house. Even a little painting is better that just leaving the walls with the paint chucking off. Present the house in the best way possible to the appraiser and you are sure to get a better appraisal value.