Professional Real Estate Appraisal
Professional real estate appraisal is a formal, highly regulated process used to determine the definitive market value of a property. Unlike a casual estimate from a neighbor or a real estate agent, an appraisal is an objective, legally defensible analysis performed by a licensed professional who has no financial interest in the property’s sale. The Core Purpose of the Service At its heart, an appraisal serves as a safeguard. For a bank, it ensures the property is worth the amount being borrowed. For an individual, it provides a "date-of-death" or "date-of-separation" value for taxes, estates, or legal settlements. The appraiser’s job is to act as an independent third party, filtering out the emotional bias of the seller and the bargain-hunting bias of the buyer. How the Evaluation is Conducted The process typically begins with a physical inspection. The appraiser walks through the property to document its size, layout, and structural condition. They aren't loo...
