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Appraisal Misconception #1: We’re often confused with home inspectors.  We are not home inspectors.  Although FHA appraisals require us to perform a “head and shoulders” inspection of the attic and crawl space, we do not get into the attic nor do we crawl through the crawl space looking for problems.  We are not trained or look for pest or termite infestation beyond what is viewable during a normal walk around and through the property.  We are not trained or licensed to identify mold.

Appraisal Misconception #2: We're often confused with county assessors.  The opinion of value we come up with has no bearing on property taxes.  We cannot correct county records errors (incorrect bed/bath count, square footage, etc.)

Appraisal Misconception #3: That we appraise the personal property within a house. The appraisal has very specific limitations of scope.

Appraisal Misconception #4: That what we do only takes a few hours.  The physical inspection of a house takes normally 15 – 20 minutes but the entire job takes from 4 to 8 hours.

Appraisal Misconception #5: That improvements are worth dollar for dollar on an appraisal report.  Homeowner spends $50K installing a in-ground pool, but the appraiser only makes a $25K adjustment on a appraisal sales grid and the appraiser gets questioned why.

Appraisal Misconception #6: That the more bedrooms you add on to your house, the more valuable it will be.  A 6 bedroom over improved house located in a neighborhood of 1940’s & 1950’s 2-3bd/1-2ba bungalows is not going to be worth the same as a 5 bedroom house located in a neighborhood of primarily 4-5 bedroom 1990’s houses.

Appraisal Misconception #7: That because the home owner pays for the appraisal, the appraiser is required to send them a copy of the report.  The client is the person or company who hires me, and they are the only one I am allowed to send my report to.