Appraisal Request from Buyers and Sellers Skyrocket in 2013. Why?

There has been a trend in the Appraisal Industry and many of my colleagues across the country are seeing the same thing....what about you?

Starting in 2013 we have seen a huge increase in the amount of What Appraisers Call Personal or Non Lender Appraisal requests. We are seeing that Buyers and Sellers are seeing the VALUE of appraisals prior to Listing their home or prior to signing on the dotted line of a sales contract. Thanks in large part to Local Realtors!

Sellers are getting appraisals for several reasons

1. Realtors are suggesting they get an appraisal before they list because the market is changing once again in most cases UPWARD and they want to make sure the property is listed at the current value. 

2. Sellers do NOT want to leave thousands on the table. Even if the Realtor is giving them a market analysis, Since values are on the rise they want to make sure. 

3. Conversely, some sellers are thinking BIG, too BIG and want to list their homes too high and therefore Realtors are saying to them, why don't you get an appraisal and then we can decide on the listing price.

4. Realtors want to stay out of the Market Valuation process....KUDOS to this group! Realtors are in the business of marketing and selling homes. NOT providing Appraisal Services, therefore many of our Local Realtors recommend an appraisal for most of their listings especially those that could be considered Complex Properties. If the value does not come in where the seller wants, you can BLAME it on the Appraiser and not take the heat if YOU were the one assigning value to the home prior to listing. 

** We specialize in Lake Lanier property and work with several Good Lake Realtors who refer their sellers to me for pre listing Appraisal Services. 

As For BUYERS:

1. Many are paying CASH, like in the case of those high end lake homes where a loan is not going to be a part of the equation. They are Savvy buyers and since no loan and no appraisal is forthcoming, they want their own appraisal before they sign on the dotted line. They do not want to offer too much for the home.

2. Even those buyers who will get a loan, they know that the Appraiser is chosen by the LENDER. They instead want control over that process and go ahead and get their own appraisal by someone that THEY have researched and that they feel knows the area. Realtors many times provide recommendations of LOCAL appraisers. This report provides the Buyer with ammunition if the Lender/Bank's appraiser comes in much different in appraised value from their own chosen appraiser's value. 

 ****** IN THIS CASE, REALTORS PLEASE DO NOT CALL, OR EMAIL THE BUYERS CHOSEN APPRAISER AND GIVE THEM THE SALES PRICE OR SALE CONTRACT. UNLESS THE BUYERS WANTS THIS TO OCCUR. THIS UNDERMINES THE BUYERS QUEST FOR AN INDEPENDENT UNBIASED, NO PRESSURE VALUATION. SO PLEASE DO NOT GIVE US THAT SALES PRICE OR CONTRACT. 

We want to say Thank you to Realtors, Buyers and Sellers for realizing the VALUE that appraisers add to the whole process. The fee for the appraisal is WELL worth avoiding making THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN MISTAKES.