![]() What Are the Parts of an Appraisal?Acquiring real estate can be the most serious financial decision some of us might ever consider. Whether it's a primary residence, a seasonal vacation property or an investment, the purchase of real property is a complex transaction that requires multiple people working in concert to make it all happen. The majority of the people participating are quite familiar. The real estate agent is the most recognizable face in the transaction. Next, the lender provides the financial capital required to fund the transaction. And ensuring all details of the sale are completed and that the title is clear to pass to the buyer from the seller is the title company. So, who's responsible for making sure the real estate is worth the purchase price? This is where you meet the appraiser. We provide an unbiased opinion of what a buyer could expect to pay — or a seller receive — for a property, where both buyer and seller are informed parties. A licensed, certified, professional appraiser from Denlinger Appraisal Associates will ensure, you as an interested party, are informed. Appraisals start with the inspectionTo determine an accurate status of the property, it's our responsibility to first perform a thorough inspection. We must see features first hand, such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the location, and so on, to ensure they truly are present and are in the condition a typical buyer would expect them to be. The inspection often includes a sketch of the property, ensuring the square footage is proper and illustrating the layout of the property. Most importantly, the appraiser identifies any obvious features - or defects - that would affect the value of the house. Back at the office, an appraiser uses two or three approaches to determining the value of real property: a paired sales analysis, a replacement cost calculation, and an income approach when rental properties are prevalent. ![]() Cost ApproachHere, we analyze information on local building costs, labor rates and other factors to ascertain how much it would cost to build a property similar to the one being appraised. This figure often sets the maximum on what a property would sell for. The cost approach is also the least used method. ![]() Analyzing Comparable SalesAppraisers get to know the communities in which they work. They innately understand the value of particular features to the people of that area. Then, the appraiser looks up recent sales in the area and finds properties which are 'comparable' to the subject at hand. Using knowledge of the value of certain items such as upgraded appliances, additional bathrooms, additional living area, quality of construction, lot size, we adjust the comparable properties so that they more accurately portray the features of subject property.
Once all necessary adjustments have been made, the appraiser reconciles the adjusted sales prices of all the comps and then derives an opinion of what the subject could sell for. At Denlinger Appraisal Associates, we are experts in knowing the worth of real estate features in Centennial and Arapahoe County neighborhoods. This approach to value is typically awarded the most consideration when an appraisal is for a real estate purchase. Valuation Using the Income ApproachIn the case of income producing properties - rental houses for example - we may use a third approach to value. In this case, the amount of income the property produces is factored in with other rents in the area for comparable properties to derive the current value. The Bottom LineCombining information from all applicable approaches, the appraiser is then ready to document an estimated market value for the property at hand. It is important to note that while the appraised value is probably the strongest indication of what a house is worth, it probably will not be the final sales price. Depending on the specific situations of the buyer or seller, their level of urgency or a buyer's desire for that exact property, the closing price of a home can always be driven up or down.Regardless, the appraised value is typically employed as a guideline for lenders who don't want to loan a buyer more money than the property is actually worth. It all comes down to this, an appraiser from Denlinger Appraisal Associates will help you discover the most fair and balanced property value, so you can make wise real estate decisions. |