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"Double Dipping" with adjsutments...Question!

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Real Estate Appraiser with Jeremy Cowin Appraisals

I was asked recently to make a "location" adjustment in addition to a "view" adjsutment as the reviewer thought that the view had to be associated with "higher elevation" and therefore was in a "superior location"  I tried to explain that some of my comps were actually "lower" in elevation than the Subject and other comps, due to the coast line and hillside nature of the neighborhood and it was the degree of the "VIEW" (i.e. 180 degrees, white water vs Blue water Ocean, partial, peek-a-boo, etc) that determined the value not the elevation, but she wanted a locatioin adjustment anyway.  I had the whole "scope of work" discussion etc.......but wanted to pose the question.......

Is this considered to be "double dipping?"  I know that making adjustments for bedroom variances AND a GLA adjustment can be considered "double dipping," in some markets and wanted to know what you all thought. 

 

 

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Sara Goodwin
Estimation Nation Corporation - Portland, OR
Portland, Oregon Appraiser

Sure .... if that's what they want... why not?  I would (and have) just split the "view" adjustment in half and attribute 1/2 of it to the location with no final value changes - It's my way of saying "see, I'm easy going but you're still not the boss of me".  Also, before I do any changes I make the UW or Reviewer write up a large explanation as to why they feel these changes are necessary (for my work file, of course).  Many times just asking them to put it in writing shys them off of the issue completely.

Aug 10, 2007 05:39 AM
Jeremy Cowin
Jeremy Cowin Appraisals - Altadena, CA
Sara - Thanks for your comment.  I do ask for "requests for changes" in writing and/or I put in the report..."at the request of the lender. these changes were made"....  (which they dont' usually like,)  My main concern was with having the appearance of making the same adjustment twice....Jeremy
Aug 10, 2007 05:50 AM
Sara Goodwin
Estimation Nation Corporation - Portland, OR
Portland, Oregon Appraiser

I don't think it's the same adjustment at all (thus having two columns in the adjustments grid) - For instance if my subject sits on a hill (small mountain to most of the US) with a view facing the valley and I have a comparable property on the other side of the hill with a view of the city, although on the same hill, they are considered different neighborhoods and their views also differ from each other and usually have different appeals to the market place... Does that make sense (it was kind of a mediocre analogy) ?

Aug 10, 2007 05:58 AM