F.A.Q.
What is your availability?
Georgia Real Estate Appraisers is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 7 pm and Saturdays from 9 am to 5 pm.
What is the importance of a professional appraisal?
The job of the professional appraiser is to determine property values by gathering, analyzing, and applying information. It is important to have a professional appraiser to ensure that there is an impartial third party in the lending process, protecting real estate buyers from overpaying for property, as well as protecting lenders from over-lending to buyers.
Are you qualified to give me an official appraisal?
Yes. All of our appraisers at Georgia Real Estate Appraisers are licensed by the state of Georgia to provide certified residential appraisals. Our staff consists of only experienced appraisers with in-depth knowledge of the areas and markets in which they perform appraisals.
How are appraisers certified?
Regulations regarding licensing and certification of real estate appraisers vary from state to state. However, licensing and certification is most often associated with many hours of coursework, tests, and practical experience. Once an appraiser is licensed, he or she is required to take continuing education courses in order to keep the license current.
Will the appraisal report you provide be acceptable for my purpose(s)?
Yes! We provide detailed and comprehensive professional appraisal reports that meet the specific needs for a wide variety of clients and purposes. As such, we are familiar with the standards and reporting requirements for any situation requiring a residential appraisal. Our appraisal reports are routinely relied upon by Georgia state and county courts, financial institutions, local, state and federal tax agencies, attorneys, accountants, real estate professionals, as well as individual home and real estate owners.
How do I get ready for my appraisal?
The first step in most appraisals is the in-person home inspection. During this process, the appraiser will come to your home, 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 make it difficult to measure the structure. On the inside, make sure that the appraiser can easily access items like furnaces and water heaters.
The following items, if available, will help your appraiser to provide a more accurate appraisal in a shorter period of time:
- A survey of the house and property
- A deed or title report showing the legal description
- A recent tax bill
- A list of personal property to be sold with the house if applicable
- A copy of the original plans
What is the appraisal based on?
With regard to single-family and multi-family homes, as well as condos, an appraisal is primarily based on the recent sales of nearby properties with broadly similar physical characteristics.
How long does the appraisal take?
It depends on the type of appraisal you need. After the inspection process and receipt of payment, most written reports should be returned to within 1-2 business days. However, special cases or circumstances may take 3-5 business days, depending on the amount of work and research required.
Does the appraisal take the condition of my home into account?
Of course! The condition of your home is an important factor of the appraisal process. That’s why the first step of an appraisal is the property inspection. During the property inspection, the appraiser will note details about the condition of your home, both inside and out, and rely on that data as the basis for comparison for the rest of the appraisal process.
How long does the appraisal last?
It depends on a number of factors. Most appraisals are usually valid between 30 days and six months after the date the appraisal is completed.
What can I do if I'm not happy with my appraisal?
The team at Georgia Real Estate Appraisers stands behind our work, but if you are unsatisfied with your report, we will perform a reconsideration of value. This will focus on gathering more data and returning it back to you in a timely manner.
Which renovations will give me the most return for my money?
The answer to this depends on the location of the home. Different markets value amenities differently. Adding a central air conditioner in Houston, Texas may add significant value, while putting one in a home located in Buffalo, New York might not have much impact.
As a rule, the most value returned from renovating a home comes in the kitchen. According to one national survey, kitchen remodels returned an average of 88% of the investment. In other words, a $10,000 kitchen remodeling project would add approximately $8,800 to the value of the home. Bathrooms were second, returning 85% of investment value.
What is market value?
Market value, or fair market value, is the most probable price that a property should sell for in a competitive and open market under all conditions requisite to a fair sale.
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: (1) buyer and seller are typically motivated; (2) both parties are well informed or well advised; (3) a reasonable time is allowed for exposure to the open market; (4) payment is made in terms of cash in U.S. dollars or in terms of financial arrangements comparable thereto; and (5) 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.