The Appraisal Process

  • Complete our online form, send us an email, or give us a call to begin the process. We will gather initial information about your property, and schedule a walk-through.

  • Gathering information is crucial to appraisals. We will visit your home, take reference photos, gather repair/renovation information, and begin market research for the appraisal report.

  • Once we have gathered all the information, we carefully review it and begin to craft your appraisal report.

  • In the final stage of the process, the report is completed and sent to you!

FAQs

  • A property assessment is what appears on your Property Tax Notice, and is a bulk basis analysis.  Your specific home is not viewed and special features of your home are not taken into account.  The assessed value is based on a statistical overview of the property values in a neighborhood a year in the past.  

    An appraisal is specific to your home. It is a current market value, taking into account recent sales of homes comparable to your home and neighbourhood.  Sometimes the appraisal and assessed values will be similar, but often they will vary.

  • Some scenarios require an appraisal, and in some instances, an appraisal isn’t mandatory, but is certainly useful!

    For example, when obtaining financing, or going through matrimonial or estate settlements, an appraisal is a required piece of information.

    If you are thinking of listing your home, appealing property tax assesments, or discussing insurance/replacement cost, and want to establish market value, an appraisal provides a useful point of reference.

  • A property inspector looks for warning signs in a property. Similar to an appraiser, they do a walk through of a property, but do so with the purpose of identifying current or potential issues. They will provide a written report of their findings.

    An appraiser assesses a property to determine market value. They take your property’s unique features into consideration, and provide a written report that outlines the market value.

  • The person who orders the appraisal becomes the owner of the completed report.

  • First impressions count! An appraisal report takes into account the property condition, so taking time to mow the lawn, make minor repairs, and present it well helps the appraiser see the value.

    We will walk through your home in depth, so please make sure all rooms are accessible and easy to maneuver. Private or personal items you don’t want us to see should be cleared away.

    Documents such as tax bills, previous appraisals, and written list of upgrades and renovations, is also helpful!

  • On-site time varies by the type of property:

    • Residential = 30mins

    • Acreage = 45mins

    • Farm = 1.5 hours

  • The cost of an appraisal is specific to the property. After an initial conversation, we should be able to provide an estimate for your specific appraisal.

    A typical appraisal cost includes factors like mileage, travel time, overhead, and insurance.