MC GEE APPRAISAL SVC

Although a new law prohibits banks from selecting their own appraisers and this business was, supposedly, next up to perform the appraisal for the sale of our house, this business's appraisal almost ended our real estate deal. We were told by the buyer's bank that she made a "judgment call" about the finished attic space in our house, lowering the number of above grade square footage. When questioned by us via the bank, she told them that she stood by her appraisal. She ignored a 30-year history, with two previous appraisals, of including the attic space in the above grade square footage. I called other appraisers, hoping to get someone to agree and come in and perform an independent appraisal, but no one wanted to step into this mess. We were told by one independent appraiser, "Good luck getting an appraiser to change their mind." We filed an appeal with the bank's appraisal review board, and they, too, disregarded this history and the standards for evaluating above grade living space. Banks seem just as reluctant to override appraisals, maybe a result of all the years some appraisers were in the pockets of the financial institutions, thus the new law. I am not complaining about being more conservative with appraisals, but about making "judgment calls," and when questioned, ignoring standards of evaluating living space and a history of previous appraisals.