![]() Comprehending AppraisalsTheir home's purchase is the most important financial decision most of us will ever encounter. Whether it's a main residence, a seasonal vacation home or an investment, purchasing real property is a detailed financial transaction that requires multiple parties to make it all happen. It's likely you are familiar with the parties taking part in the transaction. The real estate agent is the most recognizable person in the exchange. Next, the lender provides the money necessary to fund the transaction. And the title company sees to it that all areas of the transaction are completed and that the title is clear to pass to the buyer from the seller. So, what party is responsible for making sure the value of the real estate is consistent with the amount being paid? In comes the appraiser. We provide an unbiased estimate 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 Gold Coast Appraisal Group LLC will ensure, you as an interested party, are informed. Appraisals start with the property inspectionTo ascertain the true status of the property, it's our responsibility to first conduct a thorough inspection. We must see features hands on, such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the location, amenities, etc., to ensure they really exist and are in the condition a typical buyer would expect them to be. The inspection often includes a sketch of the property, ensuring the square footage is proper and conveying the layout of the property. Most importantly, the appraiser identifies any obvious amenities - or defects - that would have an impact on the value of the house. Once the site has been inspected, an appraiser uses two or three approaches to determining the value of the property: paired sales analysis and, in the case of a rental property, an income approach. ![]() Cost ApproachHere, the appraiser analyzes information on local construction costs, labor rates and other elements to figure out how much it would cost to build a property similar to the one being appraised. This figure commonly sets the upper limit on what a property would sell for. It's also the least used method. ![]() Paired Sales AnalysisAppraisers are intimately familiar with the subdivisions in which they appraise. They thoroughly understand the value of particular features to the residents of that area. Then, the appraiser researches recent sales in close proximity to the subject and finds properties which are 'comparable' to the real estate in question. Using knowledge of the value of certain items such as fireplaces, room layout, appliance upgrades, extra bathrooms or bedrooms, or quality of construction, we add or subtract from each comparable's sales price so that they more accurately match the features of subject.
In the end, 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 Cliffside Park and Bergen, Gold Coast Appraisal Group LLC can't be beat. This approach to value is usually awarded the most consideration when an appraisal is for a home purchase. Valuation Using the Income ApproachA third way of valuing a property is sometimes applied when a neighborhood has a measurable number of renter occupied properties. In this case, the amount of income the property generates is taken into consideration along with other rents in the area for comparable properties to derive the current value. Coming Up With The Final ValueCombining information from all approaches, the appraiser is then ready to put down an estimated market value for the property at hand. It is important to note that while this amount is probably the most reliable indication of what a property is worth, it probably will not be the final sales price. There are always mitigating factors such as the seller's desire to get out of the property, urgency or 'bidding wars' that may adjust an offer or listing price up or down. But the appraised value is often used 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 Gold Coast Appraisal Group LLC will help you get the most fair and balanced property value, so you can make the most informed real estate decisions. |