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American Appraisal Service
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Serving Lawrence, MI and surrounding areas

In business since 1994

American Appraisal Services office is completely computerized, from the moment they take your order until you receive a detailed appraisal report. At any point in the appraisal process they can give you an up to date status report on each assignment. American Appraisal Service prides their team on delivering, efficient, personalized quality service. It their policy to turn all Appraisal assignments around within 10 business days. The office notifies each client of any delay that might prevent them from meeting a deadline. If you so desire we will fax you or email appraisal reports. If and when you have special needs the team will do their best to accommodate. \n\nYou can be assured that each appraisal assignment will be carried out in a thorough, professional manner. American Appraisal Service is ready to serve all your appraisal needs. \n

Property Appraiser questions, answered by experts

A property valuation, sometimes called a comparative market analysis or CMA, provides a real estate expert’s opinion on how much your property will sell for. It takes many things into consideration, like the condition and location of the home, but ultimately, all that matters for a property valuation is what a buyer might be willing to pay for the property. An appraisal is more concerned with determining the value. A valuation is to estimate what you’ll get for a property, while an appraisal helps a lender establish loan-to-value ratios and loan amounts.

While some aspects of an appraisal, such as comparable properties nearby, are out of your control, there are several steps you can take to potentially increase your home's value. Make any necessary repairs and upgrades before the appraiser's visit, as they can only value what is currently part of the home, not its potential. Examples include renovating older areas, updating landscaping to boost curb appeal, and staging your home. You can also provide the appraiser with the cost of recent upgrades, which may increase your home's value by about 50% or more of what you paid for those improvements.

While a finished basement adds value to your home, it is assigned a different value than space on the main floors. An appraiser will assess the square footage of a finished basement at about 50% to 60% of the value of the square footage for the rest of your home. Appraisal value for a finished basement depends on your location’s real estate market and the specifics of the basement and how it was finished. 

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.

Ideally, you’d never pay more than the appraised value for a home, but there are some instances where it makes sense to do so. For example, if your current living arrangements are no longer viable and you need a place to move into quickly, paying more than the appraised value might be in your best interest to secure a new home. Additionally, if you’re buying in a hot market, overpaying for the home might be necessary to overcome the competition.

The Lawrence, MI homeowners’ guide to property appraisals

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.