How to Request a Reconsideration of Value for a Home Appraisal
Think a lender-ordered appraisal contains an error? Learn how to gather relevant evidence and submit a reconsideration of value request through your lender.
Real Estate Measuring Tools for Appraisers: Choosing and Checking
Compare laser meters, tapes, sketches, and field notes for residential measuring. The right tool supports a verified method and consistent area definitions.
Where Appraisers Find and Verify Comparable Sales
Appraisers use MLS, deeds, assessor records, maps, and transaction verification to analyze comparable sales. Learn what each source can—and cannot—tell you.
How Appraisers Classify a Bedroom in Virginia
A bedroom count involves layout, safety, code questions, lender reporting, and market evidence. Learn why a closet or listing label alone does not settle the issue.
The History of Home Appraisal: From Caves to Computers
Travel through home appraisal history with caveman guides, verified milestones and Joe Ellington’s firsthand story of changing tools and enduring judgment.
October 2024 Economic Insights for Real Estate: An Archive
A corrected historical reference with October 2024 inflation figures from BLS and BEA, plus context for interpreting national data in local appraisals.
Will a Home Appraisal Raise My Taxes?
Will a home appraisal raise my taxes? I explain who receives your report, how Virginia Beach assessments work, and when an appraisal can help with an appeal.
Home Appraisal After a Disaster: Flood, Fire & Storm Damage
I explain how home appraisals work after flood, fire, or storm damage, which value date you need, what records help, and how repair costs and rebuilding rules fit.
How a Home Appraisal Affects a Mortgage Decision
An appraisal can affect a lender’s collateral review and loan-to-value calculation, but the lender decides loan approval, terms, and mortgage insurance.
20 Home Appraisal Pitfalls: Condition, Records, and Comparables
A practical look at 20 condition, property-data, and comparable-sales pitfalls that can affect an appraisal or lead to factual errors—without promising a fixed value change.
Selling a Virginia Home As-Is: Value, Repairs, and Buyer Questions
Selling as-is can save repair time but may change the buyer pool and negotiation. Compare realistic options and understand where an independent appraisal fits.
Appraisal Reconciliation: Why the Final Value Is Not an Average
A reconciled appraisal value weighs the reliability of comparable sales and other evidence. Learn why the final conclusion is not simply an average.
Prepare a Home Appraisal Document Packet: Records That Matter
Gather useful property records before an appraisal: improvements, permits, measurements, HOA information, and known repairs. A clear packet helps document facts without promising a value.
What to Expect at a Home Appraisal Visit: A Homeowner Checklist
Get ready for the appraisal visit with a practical checklist for access, pets, questions, and what happens after the appraiser leaves.
Before a Home Appraisal: Which Repairs Actually Matter?
Decide what to repair, document, or leave alone before a home appraisal. Prioritize safety and accurate property facts without expecting a guaranteed value increase.