"I was very impressed with the quick and informative response I received. Janet took the time to give me background information on my artwork and I was very appreciative for the knowledge. I would highly recommend using them! Jodie L."
We are the leading Chicago appraisal firm specializing in property appraisals for Divorce, Bankruptcy, Tax Appeals, Probate & Estate, Pre-Listings, FSBO's and more. We are considered by many to be the top appraisal firm in the Chicago market and surrounding including Park Ridge, Glenview, Morton Grove, Niles, Des Plaines, Mt. Prospect, Arlington Heights, Elk Grove Village, Schaumburg, Norridge, Harwood Heights and more.\n
Big Patriot Home Remodeling is committed to excellence in every aspect of our business. We uphold a standard of integrity bound by fairness, honesty, and personal responsibility. Our distinction is the quality of service we bring to our customers. Accurate knowledge of our trade combined with ability is what makes us true professionals. Above all, we are watchful of our customers' interests and make their concerns the basis of our business.
Cole & Nosek Contracting brings over 50 years of hands-on experience in the field, along with decades of trusted side job expertise. No project is too big or too small—we handle everything from repairs and renovations to custom work and professional painting. If you can envision it, we can build it. Reliable, skilled, and committed to quality, we get the job done right.
Antiques and Jewelry Appraisals questions, answered by experts
Typically during transactions or refinancing, or whenever significant improvements are made.
Foundation cracks won’t always affect your appraised value. All foundations crack due to normal settlement, so hairline cracks that aren’t leaking or uneven from side to side are unlikely to have an impact on your appraisal. Structural cracks, on the other hand, often lead to a reduced appraised value, especially if the underlying problem will cause the issue to worsen over time.
Ensure the property is clean, provide access to all areas, and supply relevant documents, such as recent upgrades or tax records.
Basement bedrooms can count toward your room count and the square footage of your home on an appraisal if they’re fully legal, which means they have proper ventilation and points of egress, as defined by your local building code. Simply partitioning off a space for a bedroom in an otherwise unfinished basement that isn’t a legal living space won’t affect your appraisal value.
As a seller, it might feel tempting to skip the appraisal, especially in a hot market that sees a lot of all-cash offers. While you can technically forgo it and hope for an all-cash offer, you’ll likely have a very tough time selling without an appraisal.
In addition to protecting lenders from risk, appraisals also protect buyers’ investments. As such, it isn’t typically recommended for buyers to skip appraisals.
The Whiting, IN homeowners’ guide to antique and jewelry appraisals
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Home appraisals are an important part of buying or selling a home and getting a mortgage loan. Learn more about home appraisal costs and what they include.