Explore home appraisal guides originally published in 2024, covering selling a home, estates, divorce, home measurement, mortgage questions, and appraisal preparation.
By Joe Ellington, Licensed Residential Appraiser at Capital Valuations.
Articles appear newest first by their original publication date. Some guides have been updated since publication; dated market reports are historical reading.
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A balanced look at appraisal management company reform, Virginia payment and independence rules, revision requests, and evidence needed to evaluate fee concerns.
Learn when a pre-listing appraisal is worth considering, how it compares with a CMA, and how Hampton Roads sellers can prepare and use the report.
A home appraisal may support a PMI cancellation request, but your mortgage servicer sets the rules. Learn the original-value and current-value paths before ordering a valuation.
A for-sale-by-owner seller can hire a private appraiser for a defined listing decision. Learn the scope, credential, property information and lender limitations.
Joe Ellington explains when to contact a private appraiser or Virginia Beach assessor, why values can differ, and what he verifies during a home appraisal.
Home appraisal process explained by a Virginia appraiser: who orders it, seven steps, fees, timing, preparation, report delivery, and what happens next.
Hiring an appraiser for pre-listing, estate, or divorce? Ask about licensing, local experience, intended use, effective date, fee, and report scope.
Joe Ellington explains why he recommends local appraisers, how Virginia Beach neighborhoods differ, and why appraisal quality should come before the lowest fee.
Find Virginia Beach’s official property assessment search, check your home’s recorded facts, and distinguish a record correction from a value appeal.
Joe Ellington explains how cleaning, lawn care, repairs, and inspections differ from an appraisal, with firsthand examples from Hampton Roads.
A listing’s square-footage source and definition matter. Use this pre-listing checklist to reconcile assessor, builder, and measured figures before marketing a home.
A pre-appraisal can mean several things. Define the decision, client, date, report and timing before ordering a private valuation or relying on an online estimate.
Use a private FSBO appraisal to prepare accurate answers about price, area, condition and comparables. Keep net proceeds and the buyer’s lender process separate.
Tell me the property address, the reason for the appraisal, and the date the value needs to reflect. Explore appraisal services or request an appraisal quote.
