An appraisal is a professional report prepared by a qualified, certified appraiser. An appraisal provides a Market Value Estimate of your property based on recent comparable sales in the area.

The reasons for performing a real estate appraisal are varied. Clients typically seek out a professional appraiser for an opinion on:

• Current value of property being bought or sold
• Future value of property being built
• Value for mortgage or lending purposes
• Value to assist in investment decisions
• Value to measure property tax assessments or other taxes
• Verification of damage claims resulting from fire, hail, windstorms and other disasters
• Value of property to determine compensation where property is to be expropriated
• Value of property involved in litigation
• Value of private property acquired by governments for public use
• Value of property as it affects pending business mergers or dissolution

In addition there is an increasing demand for feasibility studies and consultative services offered by valuation professionals. In recent years, the real estate industry has experienced significant and ongoing changes. Today’s professional real estate appraisers are highly qualified and better able to serve the expanding needs of the marketplace with a wide range of value-added real estate advisory and consulting services. For example, arbitration, expert testimony, cost benefit studies, asset/portfolio management, due diligence and tax assessment appeals are among the value added services now offered by AIC members, serving an increasingly broad base of public and private sector clients.

Typically, appraisers are engaged by a diverse range of clients to provide a professional opinion or consultative valuation services on the quality, value or utility of a specific property. Appraisals may be required for just about any type of property, including single-family homes, apartment buildings and condominiums, office buildings, shopping centres, hotels, industrial sites, and farms, whenever real estate is sold, mortgaged, taxed, insured, or developed.

Quality Appraisals Inc. will inspect your home on the basis of size, rooms, general condition, etc., to form an overview of your property in order to compare it to similar properties sold in the area. A home inspector will look at wiring, plumbing, etc., to advise a home-buyer of the condition of those elements of the home but will not provide an opinion of value.

Quality Appraisals Inc. will give you a market value estimate of your property based on an intensive analysis of the local real estate market.

A realtor will provide an opinion of value to establish an appropriate listing price to market your property. Listing prices and market values usually differ.

An appraisal report by Quality Appraisals Inc. will contain:

• current photos of the interior, exterior and neighbourhood of your property.
• factual details of the your property: measurements, # rooms, land size, etc
• recent comparable sales in your area, which may be adjusted for differing qualities
• maps, plans, etc for the property
• a Market Value Estimate of your property.

Depending on location and seasonal influences, Quality Appraisals Inc. tries to provide a turnaround time of 1-2 days from the time of viewing the property.

The cost of an appraisal varies depending on location, type and size of property, and any other extenuating factors, such as subdivision potential, waterfront, etc.

We would be glad to discuss your specific appraisal requirements and provide a fee estimate and time frame to complete the report.

Quite often banks/brokers wish to order the appraisal themselves. You should check with your bank or broker so that it is done the correct way.

Real estate appraisers need to be able to make prudent judgements and independent decisions. They must be skilled in gathering and evaluating facts, and must understand how to access the variety of data sources that are needed for comparisons and analysis. Technical competence in reading survey drawings and blueprints and identifying construction features and materials is applied in many situations.

Critical thinking and analytical skills are essential for individuals involved in formulating opinions who work in consulting and advisory capabilities.

Quality Appraisals Inc. can provide an opinion of market value as of the date of the assessment, usually July 1 of the preceding year. This estimate will indicate if your assessment is reasonable. If you feel you have a case, the appraisal can be used by you in your negotiations with the Assessment Authority and/or your appeal, as evidence of the market value of your property.

Home renovations may or may not increase the value of your home. Certain renovations, such as kitchens & bathrooms, will increase the value of your home more than others, such as landscaping, basement finishing or swimming pools.