Appraisal Associates of Beaufort has answers to "Frequently Asked Questions"


	Appraisal Associates of Beaufort is happy to reply to any questions you might have about appraisals or real estate in Beaufort and Beaufort County. Contact us today to learn how we can help you with your valuation problems.

Define the term "Appraisal"
Describe what an appraiser does
Why would a person request a real estate appraisal?
Is an appraisal the same as a home inspection?
Is an appraisal the same as a comparative market analysis(CMA)?
What are the contents of an appraisal report?
Upon completion of the report, how can I have a guarantee that the final number is valid?
What does it mean for an appraiser to be licensed?
Who are an appraiser's customers?
Where does Appraisal Associates of Beaufort get the information used to estimate values in Beaufort County or other areas?
How can a licensed appraiser help me?
What exactly is PMI and how can I get rid of it?
How do I get ready for the appraiser?
Define "Market Value"
Who has rights to the appraisal report?
How can I get the most ROI out of home improvements?

Define the term "Appraisal" (List of questions)

The appraisal process is an estimation that produces an opinion of value. The real estate appraiser will use a several "approaches," typically three, to arrive at the estimation of market value. The Cost Approach is one of the approaches that appraisers use to find the value of a property; it involves concluding what the improvements would cost without physical degradation, adding the land value. Another of the methods is the Sales Comparison Approach - which deals with making a comparison to other similar nearby properties which have recently sold. Being the most popular approach, the Sales Comparison Approach tends to be the most precise and best indicator of market value for a residential property. The third approach is the Income Approach, which is the most important method in appraising income producing properties - it involves estimating what an investor would pay based on the money generated by the property.

Describe what an appraiser does (List of questions)

An appraiser forumlates a fair and credible assessment of market value, often in the context of a real estate exchange. Appraisers exhibit their analysis in appraisal reports.

Why would a person request a real estate appraisal? (List of questions)

There are a lot of reasons to order an appraisal with the most common reason being real estate and mortgage transactions. Some other reasons for ordering an appraisal report include:

If you are applying for a loan.
If you would like to lower your property tax burden.
To help a homeowner realize if they owe less than 80% of their home's value and remove Primary Mortgage Insurance.
To fight inflated property taxes.
To settle an estate.
To give you an edge when purchasing a home.
To determine an honest property value when selling real estate.
To ensure parties are provided just compensation in eminient domain cases.
Because a government agency such as the IRS requires it.
If you ever find yourself in a lawsuit.

For a more detailed description of the appraisal process click here.

Is an appraisal the same as a home inspection? (List of questions)

Home inspectors do not produce an opinion of value and do not do appraisal reports. The purpose of a home inspection is to evaluate the structure of the house from bottom to rooftop. For the most part, a home inspection report will discuss the amenities and the necessities of the home: air conditioning (weather permitting), electrical services, the condition of the heating system, the plumbing; then the structural capacity of the home such as the attic, visible insulation, walls, floors, ceilings, windows, then the foundation, basement and visible structures.

Is an appraisal the same as a comparative market analysis(CMA)? (List of questions)

Frankly, it's like comparing broadband and dial-up. What the CMA depends on are ill-defined trends. An appraisal is based on comparable sales that can be proven by records. Also, the appraisal looks at other factors like condition, area and replacement prices. All a CMA does is generate a "ball park figure." An appraisal delivers a defensible and carefully documented opinion of value.

The credentials of the person behind the report is actually the most significant difference between a CMA and an appraisal. Real estate agents write CMA's, and they don't always know the whole market or bear specific competence when it comes to home valuation. The appraisal is produce by a licensed, certified professional who has made a career out of valuing properties. Moreover, the appraiser is an unbiased voice, with no vested interest in the value conclusion, unlike the agent, whose income is tied to the value of the home.

What are the contents of an appraisal report? (List of questions)

Each report must indicate a credible value opinion and must clearly state the following:

Who engaged the appraiser and other intended users.
How the appraisal is supposed to be used.
The appraisal's purpose.
Precisely what "value" attribute is being reported and what that value means.
The effective date of the appraisal.
Pertinent property characteristics, including: location, physical description, legal attributes, economic factors, the property rights in question, and non-real estate items included in the valuation, such as personal property, items that are more or less permanently installed and even intangible considerations.
Any known easements, restrictions, encumbrances, leases, reservations, covenants, contracts, declarations, special assessments, ordinances, and other items of a similar nature.
Division of interest, such as fractional interest, physical segment and partial holding.
The scope of work used while working up the assignment.

For a more comprehensive look at the work that goes into an appraisal report click here: Sample Appraisal Report

Upon completion of the report, how can I have a guarantee that the final number is valid? (List of questions)

In the documentation of an appraisal, each appraiser must see to it that each of the items below are covered:

That the information analysis contained in the appraisal was suitable.

Whether individually or collectively, there were no substantial errors contained in the report, nor any material details left out.

That appraisal services were delivered in a careful and conscientious manner.

That a believable, substantiated appraisal report was imparted.

There are intense classroom and on the job experience requirements that must be adhered to in order to become a licensed appraiser in South Carolina. Plus, appraisers must stick to a strict industry code of ethics and respect national standards of practice for real estate appraisal. The guidelines for working up an appraisal and communicating its results are guaranteed by enforcement of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).

(List of questions) Regulations regarding licensing and certification are different from state to state. In general, licensing and certification typically translates to many hours of classroom study, tests and practical experience. Once licensed, he/she is required to engage in continuing education courses so that the license doesn't expire. To see the specific requirements for any state click here.

Who are an appraiser's customers? (List of questions)

Most of the time, appraisers are employed by lenders to estimate the value of a house involved in a loan transaction - to make sure the real estate is indeed adequate collateral for the loan. Appraisers also provide opinions for legal settlements, tax matters and investment decisions.

Where does Appraisal Associates of Beaufort get the information used to estimate values in Beaufort County or other areas? (List of questions)

Compiling data is one of the primary functions of an appraiser. Data can be categorized as either Specific or General. Specific data is taken from the property itself; Location, condition, amenities, size and other specifics are noted by the appraiser during an inspection.

General data is received from a numerous places. Local Multiple Listing Services (MLS) provide data on recently sold homes that could be used as comparables. To double-check actual sales prices, we use tax records and other public documents. Appraisers routinely have to report when a property is in a flood zone, and that information is retrieved from a FEMA data outlet such as a la mode's InterFlood product.

And most importantly, the appraiser assembles general data from his or her collective knowledge gained from creating appraisals for other properties in the same market.

How can a licensed appraiser help me? (List of questions)

An appraisal is a valuable tool whenever your home's value is pertinent to a financial decision. For those selling a home, you'll want to determine the price that gets you the most profit but also ensures you don't have to wait too long for a buyer to show up; an appraisal can help with that. When buying, you can avoid overpaying by commissioning an independent appraisal. For parties settling an estate or divorce, an appraisal from Appraisal Associates of Beaufort is the best documentation to ensure assets are divided evenly. A home is often the single, largest financial asset anybody owns. Without knowing its real value, wise financial decisions are impossible.

What exactly is PMI and how can I get rid of it? (List of questions)

PMI is an acronym for Private Mortgage Insurance. It guards the lender if a borrower defaults on the loan and the market price of the home is less than what is owed on the loan. You can have your PMI dropped once you've achieved 20% equity in your home through appreciation and principal payments.


	The savings from cancelling your PMI will make up for the cost of the appraisal in a matter of months. Appraisal Associates of Beaufort is a name you can trust when it comes to real estate value trends in Beaufort and Beaufort County. Contact us today.

How do I get ready for the appraiser? (List of questions)

The first step in most appraisals is the property inspection. During this process, we will come to your home and measure it, determine the layout of the rooms inside, confirm all aspects of the home's general condition, and take several photos of your house for inclusion in the report. The best thing you can do to help is make sure the appraiser has easy access to the exterior of the house . Trim any bushes and move any items that would get in our way while we measure the structure. Indoors, make sure we can easily access appliances like furnaces and water heaters.

To help expedite our work as well as ensure a more accurate report, try if possible to have the following items:

Any records on the purchase of the property for the last three years.
Any paperwork, such as a title policy with information on encroachments or easements encroachments or easements.
Any inspection reports, or other recent reports for termites, EIFS (synthetic stucco) wall systems, your septic system and wells.
A copy of the current listing agreement and broker's data sheet and Purchase Agreement if a sale is "pending".
Most recent real estate tax bill and or legal description of the property.

Define "Market Value" (List of questions)

In real estate appraising, Market Value (as opposed to Fair Market Value) is commonly defined as:

"The most probable price (in terms of money) which a property should bring in a competitive and open market under all conditions requisite to a fair sale, the buyer and seller each acting prudently and knowledgeably, and assuming the price is not affected by undue stimulus. Implicit in this definition is the consummation of a sale as of a specified date and the passing of title from seller to buyer under conditions whereby: the buyer and seller are typically motivated; both parties are well informed or well advised, and acting in what they consider their best interests; a reasonable time is allowed for exposure in the open market; payment is made in terms of cash in United States dollars or in terms of financial arrangements comparable thereto; and the price represents the normal consideration for the property sold unaffected by special or creative financing or sales concessions granted by anyone associated with the sale."

Who has rights to the appraisal report? (List of questions)

For mortgage transactions, the lender requests the appraisal, either directly or through a third party. While the buyer pays for the report as part of the closing costs, the lender retains the right to use the report or any information contained within. The buyer is certainly entitled to a copy of the report - it's usually bundled with all the other closing documents - but is not allowed to use the report for any other purpose without permission from the lender.

The exception to this rule is when a home owner hires an appraiser directly. In these cases, the appraiser may stipulate the purpose of the appraisal; for PMI removal, or estate planning or tax challenges, for example. If not stipulated otherwise, the home owner can use the appraisal for any purpose.

How can I get the most ROI out of home improvements? (List of questions)

The added value of a particular amenity truly depends on the local market. For example, putting in an inline humidifier could be nice in arid regions, but completely useless near the coast!

As a rule, the best ROI from renovating a home comes in the kitchen. One recent study revealed that putting $20,000 into a kitchen remodel would add about $17,500 to the value of the home - or about an 88% return on investment. Bathrooms are right up there with kitchens, yielding 85%. Adding bedrooms and baths can also boost the value of your home (when done well) as long as your home doesn't then become an oddball for your neighborhood in terms of size.