An appraisal report is an investigation allowing the appraiser to come to an opinion of value. There are three "common approaches to value" which assists the appraiser conclude this opinion or estimate. One of the methods is the Cost Approach - which is how much capital would be required to replace the improvements, less physical deterioration and other factors, then adding the land value. The Sales Comparison Approach deals with searching for similar homes in the vicinity and figuring out the value based on comparing those properties to the home being investigated. Being the most common approach, the Sales Comparison Approach tends to be the most accurate and best indicator of market value for a property. The third approach is the Income Approach, which is the most important method in appraising income producing properties - it deals with estimating what an investor would pay based on the income produced by the property.

A good appraiser will have the report back to the client within 24 to 48 hours after the time of inspection. Occasionally it might take a little longer due to the limited amount of sales data such as when a property is in an area where few properties sell, or the property is unusual. Appraisers call this “turn time”.

We specialize in residential appraisals. These include: single family homes, condominiums, vacant land, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, lake front homes, ranches and large acreage homes of residential use only. We perform appraisals for Mortgage Lenders, Home Owners, CPAs, Financial Planners, Realtors and Attorneys.

Yes. Please read our Privacy Policy for more details about how we use your information.

Each assignment is different. There are three approaches to value: The Sales Comparison Approach (aka Market Approach), The Income Approach and The Cost Approach. Of the three approaches, the most reliable and the most weighed upon is the Market Approach, this is the one where we as appraisers have to determine which homes are the most comparable to the subject for comparison purposes staying within appraisal guidelines. The Income and The Cost approaches are only used to give additional support to the conclusions and are normally secondary due to the reliability of data not always being conclusive.

A professional attitude, a friendly smile and a lot of quiet. Remember, what you want is for the appraiser is to be able to focus at his/her work so they won’t miss all relevant items to your home’s value. If you have made recent improvements to your home, make sure to point those out and if you take the time to jot them down on a piece of paper, with dates and costs, this will definitely go a long way in helping the appraiser at arriving at the best conclusions.

Depending on the size of the home and whether or not there are any interruptions, the typical time is anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes. The appraisal inspection includes: exterior photos of improvements (all 4 sides), photos of any additional amenities such as views, pools, outdoor living areas, spas, detached garage, outbuildings and so on, and lastly a walkthrough of all living areas and photos of all major rooms such as the kitchen, family room and all bathrooms.

There are many reasons to purchase an appraisal from SACRAMENTO APPRAISAL GROUP with the usual reason being real estate and mortgage transactions. Some other reasons for getting an appraisal include:

• To get a loan.
• If you would like to lower your property tax obligations.
• To show a homeowner has 30% equity and remove insurance.
• To challenge high property taxes.
• If you need to settle an estate.
• To give you a negotiating tool when purchasing real estate.
• To figure out a reasonable sales price when putting your home on the market.
• To defend your rights if your property is being taken by means of eminent domain in a condemnation case.
• Because a government agency such as the IRS requires it.
• It's possible you could have to deal with being in a lawsuit - an appraisal will definitely help.

The appraiser is not a home inspector nor does he/she do a comprehensive home inspection. A third-party home inspector will inspect the structure of the home, from the top to the foundation. Generally, a home inspection report will discuss the amenities and the requirements of the house: air conditioning (weather permitting), electrical systems, 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 other visible structures.

Simply, they have nothing in common. The CMA utilizes market trends to create most of their business. The appraisal is based on similar definite comparable sales. The appraisal report will also contain neighborhood and construction costs. A CMA delivers a "ball park figure." An appraisal delivers a defensible and carefully documented opinion of value.

The person creating the report is actually the most significant difference between a CMA and an appraisal. Real estate agents, who may not have a true grasp of valuation methods or the entire market, create CMA's. The appraisal is produce by a licensed, certified professional who makes a living out of valuing properties. Moreover, the appraiser is an independent voice, with no vested interest in the value of a home, unlike the agent, who gets a commission based upon the value of the home.

The main objective of an appraisal report is to give a value opinion, and depending on the scope of the report, one will customarily see the following:

• Who engaged the appraiser and whose purposes the appraisal is to serve.
• The intended use of the report.
• The purpose of the appraisal.
• Precisely what "value" attribute is being reported and what that value means.
• The effective date of the appraisal.
• Relevant property attributes, including: location, physical attributes, legal attributes, economic factors, the real property interest valued, and non-real estate items included in the valuation, such as personal property, permanent equipment installations and even intangible items.
• All known easements, restrictions, encumbrances, leases, reservations, covenants, contracts, declarations, special assessments, ordinances, and the like.
• Division of interest, such as fractional interest, physical segment and partial holding.
• What was involved in the process of completing the appraisal.

If you're making some sort of financial decision and the value of your home matters, you'll want a full appraisal. 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. If you're buying, it makes sure you don't overpay. If you're engaged in an estate settlement or divorce, it ensures that property is divided fairly. Simply put, a home is often the single, largest financial asset anybody owns. Without knowing its real value, wise financial decisions are impossible.

The first step in most appraisals is the home inspection. During this process, the appraiser 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. Inside, pick up any clutter and make sure we can find our way to things like furnaces and water heaters. In the yard, trim any bushes so we can be free to get an accurate measurement of exterior walls.

The following items, if available, will help your appraiser to provide a more accurate appraisal in a shorter period of time:

• A survey or plot map of the property and building (if readily available).
• Any paperwork, such as a title policy with information on encroachments or easements encroachments or easements.
• Any "Homeowners Associations" agreements or, if applicable, condo agreements or fees .
• A list of any major home improvements and enhancements, the amount of their purchase and date of their installation (for example, the addition of central air conditioning or roof repairs) and permit confirmation (if available).
• Most recent real estate tax bill and or legal description of the property.