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.
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.
UAD 3.6 Appraisal Reports: 2026 Rollout and Homeowner Guide
UAD 3.6’s November 2, 2026 mandate remains, with temporary exceptions for approved Sellers. Review official GSE submission and retirement dates.
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.
Pre-Listing Appraisals in Hampton Roads: A Seller’s Planning Guide
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.
PMI Removal and Home Appraisals: Eligibility, Ordering and Cost
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.
FSBO Appraisal Services in Hampton Roads: How to Hire
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.
Home Services and Your Appraisal: What Matters and Who Handles It
Joe Ellington explains how cleaning, lawn care, repairs, and inspections differ from an appraisal, with firsthand examples from Hampton Roads.
For Agents: Check Living Area Before Listing a Home
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.
FSBO Home Appraisal: Pricing, Buyer Questions, and Offers
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.
What Lowers a Home Appraisal? Factors That Matter
Condition, location, recent sales, and timing can affect an appraisal. Review the evidence before challenging a report.
Home Appraisal Agent: Who Should You Hire to Value Your Home?
Looking for a home appraisal agent? Joe Ellington explains how to choose a residential appraiser, who orders the report, and what to ask before hiring.