Comprehending AppraisalsA home purchase is the most important financial decision many could ever make. Whether it's where you raise your family, a second vacation property or one of many rentals, purchasing real property is a complex transaction that requires multiple people working in concert to pull it all off. It's likely you are familiar with the parties having a role in the transaction. The most known entity in the exchange is the real estate agent. Next, the bank provides the money necessary to finance the deal. And the title company makes sure that all aspects of the exchange are completed and that a clear title passes from the seller to the buyer. So, what party is responsible for making sure the property is worth the purchase price? In comes the appraiser. We provide an unbiased opinion of what a buyer might expect to pay — or a seller receive — for a parcel of real estate, 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. Inspecting the subject propertyTo ascertain an accurate status of the property, it's our responsibility to first complete a thorough inspection. We must see aspects of the property hands on, such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the location, living areas, etc, to ensure they truly exist and are in the condition a reasonable person would expect them to be. The inspection often includes a sketch of the house, ensuring the square footage is proper and conveying the layout of the property. Most importantly, we identify any obvious amenities - or defects - that would affect the value of the house. Back at the office, an appraiser uses two or three approaches to determining the value of the property: sales comparison and, in the case of a rental property, an income approach. 
Cost ApproachHere, we gather information on local construction costs, labor rates and other factors to derive how much it would cost to build a property similar to the one being appraised. This value usually sets the maximum on what a property would sell for. The cost approach is also the least used method. 
Sales ComparisonAppraisers are intimately familiar with the neighborhoods in which they work. They thoroughly understand the value of specific features to the residents of that area. Then, the appraiser researches recent sales in the vicinity and finds properties which are 'comparable' to the real estate at hand. Using knowledge of the value of certain items such as remodeled rooms, types of flooring, energy efficient items, patios and porches, or extra storage space, we adjust the comparable properties so that they more accurately portray the features of subject property.
An opinion of what the subject could sell for can only be determined once all differences between the comps and the subject have been evaluated. When it comes to valuing features of homes in Woodland Hills and Los Angeles, All City Appraisal can't be beat. This approach to value is typically given the most consideration when an appraisal is for a home exchange. Valuation Using the Income ApproachA third way of valuing a property is sometimes employed when a neighborhood has a reasonable number of renter occupied properties. In this situation, the amount of revenue the real estate yields is factored in with other rents in the area for comparable properties to derive the current value. Putting It All TogetherAnalyzing the data from all approaches, the appraiser is then ready to state an estimated market value for the subject property. The estimate of value on the appraisal report is not necessarily the final sales price even though it is likely the best indication of what a property is worth. There are always mitigating factors such as seller motivation, urgency or 'bidding wars' that may adjust an offer or listing price up or down. Regardless, the appraised value is typically employed as a guideline for lenders who don't want to loan a buyer more money than the property is actually worth. At the end of the day, an appraiser from All City Appraisal will help you get the most accurate property value, so you can make wise real estate decisions. |