Understanding AppraisalsPurchasing real estate can be the most significant investment most people will ever make. Whether it's a primary residence, a second vacation property or a rental fixer upper, purchasing real property is a complex transaction that requires multiple people working in concert to make it all happen. Practically all the people involved are very familiar. The real estate agent is the most known person in the transaction. Then, the lender provides the money necessary to bankroll the exchange. And the title company makes sure that all aspects of the exchange are completed and that a clear title transfers to the buyer from the seller. So, what party is responsible for making sure the real estate is worth the purchase price? This is where the appraiser comes in. We provide an unbiased opinion of what a buyer might expect to pay — or a seller receive — for a property, where both buyer and seller are informed parties. A licensed, certified, professional appraiser from All City Appraisal will ensure, you as an interested party, are informed. Appraisals begin with the property inspectionTo ascertain an accurate status of the property, it's our duty to first perform a thorough inspection. We must actually see features, such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the location, amenities, etc., to ensure they really are present and are in the shape a typical person would expect them to be. To ensure the stated square footage has not been misrepresented and illustrate the layout of the house, the inspection often requires creating a sketch of the floorplan. Most importantly, we identify any obvious amenities - or defects - that would affect the value of the property. Once the site has been inspected, we use two or three approaches to determining the value of real property: a sales comparison, a replacement cost calculation, and an income approach when rental properties are prevalent. 
Cost ApproachHere, we analyze information on local building costs, the cost of labor and other elements to figure out how much it would cost to replace the property being appraised. This estimate commonly sets the upper limit on what a property would sell for. It's also the least used predictor of value. 
Analyzing Comparable SalesAppraisers become very familiar with the subdivisions in which they work. They thoroughly understand the value of certain features to the homeowners of that area. Then, the appraiser looks up recent transactions in close proximity to the subject and finds properties which are 'comparable' to the property being appraised. By assigning a dollar value to certain items such as fireplaces, room layout, appliance upgrades, additional bathrooms or bedrooms, or quality of construction, we adjust the comparable properties so that they are more accurately in line with the features of subject.
After all differences have been accounted for, the appraiser reconciles the adjusted sales prices of all the comps and then derives an opinion of what the subject could sell for. When it comes to associating a value with features of homes in Woodland Hills and Los Angeles, All City Appraisal can't be beat. This approach to value is commonly awarded the most importance when an appraisal is for a home sale. Valuation Using the Income ApproachIn the case of income producing properties - rental houses for example - the appraiser may use a third method of valuing a house. In this case, the amount of income the property produces is taken into consideration along with other rents in the area for comparable properties to determine the current value. Arriving at a Value ConclusionCombining information from all approaches, the appraiser is then ready to document an estimated market value for the subject property. It is important to note that while the appraised value is probably the best indication of what a property is worth, it may not be the final sales price. Depending on the individual circumstances of the buyer or seller, their level of urgency or a buyer's desire for that exact property, the closing price of a home can always be driven up or down.But the appraised value is typically used as a guideline for lenders who don't want to loan a buyer more money than they could get back in the event they had to sell the property again. It all comes down to this, an appraiser from All City Appraisal will help you get the most fair and balanced property value, so you can make the most informed real estate decisions. |