Why You Need To Hire A Professional Real Estate Appraiser Now

By Nancy Morgan


For homeowners who intend to continue living in one's residence for the foreseeable future, seeking out an appraisal of the property doesn't make much sense. But unless you closely follow Dallas real estate trends, it's safe to say that you have no clue how much your house is worth. This is just but one of the reasons why you should get your home appraised now, your future plans notwithstanding.

An appraisal will often be necessary when one is getting a home equity loan. Most lenders take into account how much equity one possesses before advancing funds, and this depends on their property's current value. This makes it crucial to have an appraisal done prior to application, especially if several years have passed since the last exercise.

Making renovations to your home is all well and good, but it wouldn't hurt to keep the property's resale value in mind when planning the exercise. Considering how costly a remodel can be, it wouldn't make much sense to spend on upgrades that will not add value to your investment. It wold thus make sense to consult an appraiser when contemplating such a project, especially if you live in an area considered to be a hot property market.

Part of achieving a successful sale when putting your house on the market is setting a fair listing price. Although you could rely on an agent for this, a professional appraiser would be more helpful, especially if your home has some unique attributes. Compared to the former, appraisers often have a better understanding of the local property market. So if you've made the decision to sell, consider hiring one to help you set the best price.

In most areas, property taxes are calculated based on the fair market value of houses. And as you may well know, properties rise and fall in value to reflect current economic trends. If housing prices in your area have dipped in recent times, you might be able to save on property taxes by requesting a reassessment. You will however need to submit an appraisal document when launching your appeal, so start looking for an expert now.

The fair market value of your home is what determines how much you will pay in taxes. However, this doesn't always reflect current conditions, especially in areas with constantly-changing property prices. If your tax bill seems inexplicably too high, an appraisal report is part of what you will need to successfully appeal the assessment.

Getting a new mortgage to replace the one you already have (also known as refinancing) can tremendously boost your financial position. The only hurdle you'll face is the appraisal that's required by most lenders to ensure the property's value justifies the refinanced loan amount. This can be done by the lender's preferred valuer or a third party, depending on the institution.

Conducted by a certified professional, an appraisal is one of your most valuable sources of knowledge about your property. And no matter how you look at it, there's no substitute for a professional, independent valuation. This means it will be worth your while paying for one, especially if your home represents the pillar upon which your financial decisions are based.




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