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Appalachian Appraisal Services

Certified Appraiser

There is no reason to guess. Hire a certified appraiser to help you make logical and well supported real estate decisions. Whether you’re buying or selling a home, dividing assets, or estate planning, a seasoned appraiser knows how to develop a credible appraisal with an unbiased and objective opinion of value.

Appalachian Appraisal Services is a leading provider of real estate valuations for appraisal management companies, direct lenders and private individuals. Our experience is second-to-none in Maryland (Washington, Frederick & Allegany counties) and West Virginia (Jefferson & Berkeley counties).

Maryland Home Appraisal

West Virginia Home Appraisal

Selling a Home

Appalachian Appraisal Services helps listing agents and for-sale-by-owners to determine a listing price. Sell the home faster by understanding the nuances of your market segment by hiring a certified real estate appraiser that is experienced in your local market area.

Today many homes are purchased without a real estate appraisal requirement from the buyer’s lender. In this scenario, the real estate agents are commission-based, and the unbiased and objective opinion of an appraisal is waived. Both realtors and appraisers see this as a potential issue because there are no checks and balances on the purchase price. The buyer could pay more than the market value. The typical home buyer must make a down payment of 20% or more of the purchase price. It’s the buyer’s down payment that could be lost if the property is sold for more than market value. On the other side of the table, the listing/buyer agent’s liability could be increased in a transaction with no unbiased and objective opinion of market value rendered.

Our advice to realtors is to hire Appalachian Appraisal Services to provide an unbiased and objective opinion of value before the loan closes with the agent and their client as an intended user. There are many situations that could go wrong in a real estate transaction without a certified unbiased and objective opinion of market value. Do not take any chances and hire Appalachian Appraisal Services for a professional unbiased and objective opinion of market value.

We serve all types of clients including direct lenders, credit unions, appraisal management companies, legal and accounting firms and individuals with a real estate appraisal need. Appalachian Appraisal Services provides appraisals for:

Asset Division

Whether one party is “getting the house”, or the home is sold and the profit split, our appraisal experts can ensure that an unbiased and objective opinion of market value is rendered.

Estate Planning or Insurance

We provide retrospective appraisals for all your estate planning needs. You might even be able to save money by getting rid of PMI!

Mortgage Acquisition and Refinance

We provide professional appraisals in an efficient manner to service both new mortgages and refinance.

Types of Appraisals

Appalachian Appraisal Services expertly provides the following types of appraisals:

Desktop appraisal

General purpose appraisal

Bifurcated appraisal

Hybrid appraisal

FNMA appraisal forms

FHA approved

USDA approved

Complex assignment experience

Schedule Your Appraisal

Do not buy or sell a home without an appraisal.

Some buyers / sellers are waiving appraisals. But what is the risk to buyers, sellers, or agents who enter into a contract with no appraisal? Can agents really determine a listing price with no objective appraisal process? The answer is no! Real estate agents cannot give that objective appraisal when they stand to make a commission off the sale or purchase of a home.

Buyers

Do not pay more than probable market value. The only way to get an unbiased opinion is to hire a local certified real estate appraiser.

Sellers

Make sure that you know what your home is worth before you sell. The only way to get an unbiased opinion is to hire a local certified real estate appraiser.

How does the appraiser determine the value of my home or property?

A licensed appraiser looks at many factors when determining the value of a property.

Exterior Condition

Specifically foundation, walls, and roof.

Lot Size

The size of the lot makes a difference in how much the property is worth.

Interior Condition

Windows, doors, floors, appliances and more are assessed here.

Improvements or Add-Ons

What makes your home or property stand out from the rest?

Neighborhood Value

How much have other homes in the area sold for?

Appraisal Glossary

There are a lot of acronyms and confusing terms when it comes to appraisals. Here are the definitions of some of the more common terms and acronyms.

Ad Valorem Tax – Tax assessment based on the value of the land PLUS the improvements.

Adjusted Bias – The value of the property or other asset, including the original price plus improvements less depreciation.

Appraisal – An expert estimate of the value of something.

Appraisal Waiver – See Property Inspection Waiver.

Appraiser – One who determines the fair market value of property or assets.

Asset – An item of value that a person owns.

Caveat Emptor –The principle that the buyer alone is responsible for checking the quality and suitability of goods before a purchase is made.

Effective Age – The amount of time that has passed since the home or structure was built.

Property Data Collection (PDC) – This is when someone goes to the property and does the inspection.

Property Inspection Waiver (PIW) – This means there will be no inspection or appraisal.

Uniform Residential Appraisal Report (URAR) – The standard form appraisers use to report their findings about the value of a property (Fannie Mae form 1004).

Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) – Standard of quality by which property appraisers value real property, personal property, and intangible assets.