Special offer

You Need An Appraisal

By
Real Estate Agent with HomeSmart 0561240

Had a listing appointment the other day and wanted to share my experience as well as maybe get your advice or opinion.

This prospect/customer had a 10-acre lot with a 1,700 square foot, 3-bedroom, 2-bath house on it. But she gave 5-acres to her son and now wanted to sell her share 5-acres which has the house setting on it.

They had a rod-iron fence custom built around the 10-acre lot with a horseshoe style driveway and a remote gate (which had NO Keypad, required remote from within).

They stated she wouldn't sell for less then $500,000, justifying the price because of the cost of the fence $250,000 and the driveway $50,000 and because she had utilities already on the property.

So I explain to her about the other properties in the neighborhood exactly on the same street that were available using the CMA Report that showed similar properties in the same area 5-acre lot at $120,000 & another 5-acres with a 3-bedroom house at $185,000.

She stated that she would sell for less, so I asked her "so you want a buyer to pay full amount for the fence and full amount for the driveway", because if someone purchases this property they will only receive half. She just stared at me...

That's when I explained the appraisal example and I gave her to scenarios; the first one I stated, what would you do if we received the full amount for the property at $500,000 and the appraisal came it at $1,000,000 - you would be short changing yourself, on the other hand let's say we accept the offer at $500,000 but the appraisal came in at $300,000 - who would need to make up the difference?

Because the lender will only loan on the lowest amount and in this case it will cost them even more since there aren't too many lenders' willing to do 100% loans. That means the buyer will need to bring $200,000 plus 20% down of $300,000 = $60,000 - that's $260,000 cash plus costly cost.

I then suggested that they get an appraisal so they wouldn't be short changing themselves... And they agreed!

What else would you have done?

Posted by

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Adam Brett
The Adam and Eric Group - Fullerton, CA
The Adam and Eric Group, Fullerton's Finest

I would have told them either get an appraisal - by my choice of appraiser - or I am not taking the listing.

May 13, 2008 12:01 PM
Yvette Smith
LONG & FOSTER - Williamsburg, VA
Realtor In Williamsburg VA, Homes for Sale

Yes, get an appraisal.  My company does a pre appraisal on every listing we take, as well as a home inspection...all up front...at our expense!  Fab huh?!

Thanks for your post!

Yvette Smith

Williamsburg's Preferred Realtor®

 

May 13, 2008 12:17 PM
Bart Whitmore
Keller Williams- Louisville - Louisville, KY
Real Estate Agent

Sounds like to me you did the correct thing,hey like you said they could be over or they could be under.

May 13, 2008 01:34 PM
Anonymous
Joesph Wells

I've would have just taken the listing and waited for the results - after all I am just trying to get leads in this slow market...

May 14, 2008 09:25 AM
#4
Christopher & Bernadette Hurley
Go Hurley Group - Sugar Land, TX

Getting an appraisal is exactly what I would have done.  Your scenario sounds like a listing we are about to take.  We focused on the expireds and days on the market to state our case on overpricing.  When we showed up for the listing, the owner already paid for an appraisal and had it ready for us.  The appraisal showed that the price they were looking for was still $500,000 more than what it appraised for.   The funny thing...The seller still thought the appraisal was wrong until we focused on the DOM of all expireds. 

So did the home appraise for what your seller wanted?

Bernadette

May 29, 2008 03:38 PM
Shayne Stone
HomeSmart - Fulshear, TX
"Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED

Thanks all for the tips! As of today the customer stated that the appraiser is having a hard time getting out to their property. I guess their trying to get a COMP! LOL

Meanwhile I did find the property listed before last year under acreage and it was listed at $600,000 for over 288 days with a final reduce price of $385,000...

May 31, 2008 06:35 AM