Appraisal Referral

An appraisal is generally a part of just about any real estate transaction. Buyers bring in an appraiser to assess the property’s value prior to their finalization of the purchase. This can help ensure that they don’t purchase the property for more than it is worth. But the services of an appraiser in combination with a certified real estate professional can be even more useful for people who are selling or refinancing their homes, because an appraisal will help you to value a home when you are purchasing as well as helping you to determine what value to list your home at when you are selling.

But, how do you get the qualified services of a real estate professional and ensure an accurate appraisal? Do you rely on yellow pages or classifieds? How can you be sure that the professionals under consideration are as competent as they say they are?

The best way to hire a real estate professional is to go through referrals. You can either ask friends and family who have recently purchased a home or refinanced their homes for referrals. Since referrals will come from satisfied buyers, you can be sure that you are being referred to an appraiser who provides great service and is competent.

Referrals work because you are able to list qualified, state-licensed appraisers who have been involved with selling, purchasing or refinancing of homes in your geographical area or locality. This is important because it is an indicator that the appraiser is aware of the current market prices in your area, and you are at peace knowing that you are the best price for the property when you compare it to other properties within your same area.

Appraisal services are also critical in situations such as divorce settlements or estate liquidation, where if the parties want to sell the home, they get a fair assessment of their estate and know what price to set.

If you don’t get any referrals from your network of family and friends, simply ask the appraiser to provide you with referrals of existing customers. Make sure that you ask questions about any recent sales they have concluded in the specific neighborhood where the property is located and how the sales price was set. A good appraiser will also give you helpful suggestions about any home improvements that you should undertake to up the market value of the property. So, don’t just stop at asking how much you should sell your home for. It is equally important to find out if it would fetch a better price if you painted it, or remodeled the kitchen.

Whether you reach an appraiser through referrals or not, remember that they have no vested interest the selling price of the property. Their role is limited to helping you make an informed decision about the sales price.