"Martin's Appraisals conducted a professional and thorough appraisal in an expedient manner. I would highly recommend this business as a good value for your money."
"did a very thorough job. wasn't in any rush and explained the reason for everything she did.I felt very much at ease with this person,and would not hesitate to use this service again"
"Quick yet thorough home appraisal report! Jeff is a super nice guy & easy to work with. Can t beat the service he provides for a very reasonable price. Let him be your first and only stop!"
"Bob called almost as soon as we put our request into Home Advisors. We explained that we needed our rental home appraised but due to COVID-19, we needed an appraisal without entering the property. Bob said he could use pictures of the inside to complete the appraisal. Within 3 days we had a very thorough appraisal."
"I wasn’t rushing into my home purchase and David was patient during the two years it took to land my home. I wasn’t sure what I wanted at the outset and David encouraged me to see a variety of property types and conditions. That helped hone in on what I wanted and we submitted a couple of offers along the way. The whole experience informed me of what was important to me and emphasized the need to act fast. So when a home I really liked went on the market just as I was headed out of town, David and I developed a strategy to make sure I didn’t lose out. Six months later and I still smile and think how much I love my new home every time I open the front door. (And I have great neighbors, too.) On top of his real estate expertise and familiarity with the area, David also leverages the technology to complete a contract quickly online. He took the time to answer every question and really walked me through the home-buying process."
"David was professional and extremely knowledgeable. We had a very complex appraisal and he was able to do the necessary work to create a thorough assessment. High recommend David, and he didn t break the bank!"
"My husband and I expressed an interest in a particular neighborhood that is often in high demand to Mary Schaner, knowing that it may be quite some time before a house became available. Mary kept us in mind and each time there was a listing, she called us to let us take a look. Her patience was? appreciated and finally, after a lot of thought, we decided to purchase a house Mary found for us. She went above and beyond, working with us so that we could get what we felt was a fair purchase price, even convincing the seller to allow our contingency. It was a competitive situation, but Mary worked with us diligently. After a long couple of months waiting for our house to sell, we finally settled on the house and neighborhood we had been dreaming about. I'm convinced that none of this would have happened if Mary hadn't taken the time to keep in touch with us, staying on top of the market in our neighborhood of choice. I highly recommend Mary Schaner - a more friendly, conscientious and driven agent can't be found."
Ensure the property is clean, provide access to all areas, and supply relevant documents, such as recent upgrades or tax records.
Around 1-2 weeks, including inspection and reporting time for an official evaluation.
In cases where an appraisal comes in lower than an offer price, sellers might opt to lower their asking price to meet the appraisal, especially if the market is slow, and replacing the offer with a higher one may take a long time. Sellers can also offer to make repairs to boost the appraised value, hire another appraiser to get a second opinion, or just move on to another offer that isn’t contingent on the buyer getting a mortgage or an appraisal inspection.
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.
In short, yes, a pond can add to your home’s value. However, whether it adds value will depend on the condition and aesthetic of your pond. Having this feature already built into a yard’s home can be appealing to homebuyers who value its aesthetic and would prefer not to build it themselves. But if it is not kept in good condition, it could turn buyers away.
The Timonium, MD homeowners’ guide to property 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.
FHA loans are backed by the government and come with specific FHA appraisal guidelines and requirements. Learn what an FHA appraisal entails in this guide.