"Hired to do valuation of a manufactured home - not on land. Gave appraisal comparison properties included land. therefore not an accurate valuation. Thought salesperson understood nuance."
Johnny Smith Appraisal Service 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.
The purpose of the home appraisal determines which party pays for it. You’re generally responsible for the cost if you need to know the current value of your home to refinance your mortgage, though in some instances the lender will pay for it. The buyer pays for the appraisal when they are applying for their mortgage.
In most cases, selling a home in as-is condition will lead to a sale price that’s somewhere between 10% and 30% lower than normal. However, it’s often worthwhile to sell at a loss because the alternative would be to pay for the repairs yourself, which could end up costing you more. Even if they didn’t, selling as-is saves you from the time and energy you’d spend coordinating the repairs.
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.
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.
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.
The De Kalb, MS 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.