Midlands Appraisal Group, LLC has answers to "Frequently Asked Questions"

Midlands Appraisal Group, LLC is always prepared to address any inquiries you might have about appraisals or real estate in Camden and Kershaw County. Feel free to contact us today.

Describe an appraisal
What does an appraiser do?
What would cause me to request your services?
How is an appraisal different than a home inspection?
Is an appraisal the same as a comparative market analysis(CMA)?
What's in an appraisal report?
After completing the appraisal, what assurance is there that the value indicated is legitimate?
What are the requirements to be a certified appraiser?
Who do appraisers work for?
Where does an appraiser get the information used to estimate values in Kershaw County or other areas?
What can a full appraisal do for me?
My mortgage statement has an item on it for PMI? Can I get rid of that?
Should I do anything in advance of the appraisal inspection
Define "Market Value"
Does the appraisal belong to the bank or the consumer?
Are some home improvements more worthwhile than others?



Describe an appraisal   (See list of FAQ's)

An appraiser performs an evaluation that produces an opinion of value. There are three "common approaches to value" which assists the appraiser come to this opinion or valuation. One of the processes is the Cost Approach - which is what it would cost to replace the improvements, less physical deterioration and other factors, plus the land value. The Sales Comparison Approach involves finding comparable houses in close proximity and discerning value based on making a comparison of those homes to the home being appraised. Being the most commonly used approach, the Sales Comparison Approach tends to be the most precise and best indicator of market value for a residential property. One of the least common approaches in appraising homes is the Income Approach, which is mainly used to find the market value of a property based on what an investor would pay based on the income produced by the building.

What does an appraiser do?   (See list of FAQ's)

An appraiser offers a professional, unbiased opinion of market value, in the support of real estate exchanges. Appraisers summarize their analysis in appraisal reports.


What would cause me to request your services?   (See list of FAQ's)

There are many reasons to order an appraisal with the usual reason being real estate and mortgage transactions. A few other reasons for purchasing an report include:
  • If you are applying for a loan.
  • To reduce your property taxes.
  • To show a homeowner has 30% equity and remove insurance.
  • To fight high property taxes.
  • If you need to settle an estate.
  • To offer you a negotiating tool when purchasing a home.
  • To determine the most probable sales price when listing your home.
  • To ensure parties are provided just compensation in eminient domain cases.
  • Because an official agency such as the IRS requires it.
  • If you are ever involved in a lawsuit.
For a more extensive explanation of the appraisal process click here.


How is an appraisal different than a home inspection?   (See list of FAQ's)

The appraiser is not a home inspector and does not do a full home inspection. A third-party home inspector will evaluate the structure of the property, from the roof to the bottom. Usually, a home inspection report will explain the amenities and the requirements of the house: air conditioning (weather permitting), electrical services, the condition of the heating system, the plumbing; then the structural capacity of the home such as the attic, visible insulation, walls, floors, ceilings, windows, then the foundation, basement and visible structures.

Is an appraisal the same as a comparative market analysis(CMA)?   (See list of FAQ's)

Simply put, it's apples and oranges. The CMA uses market trends to generate most of their business. The appraisal is based on specific proven comparable sales. In addition, the appraisal checks other factors like condition, neighborhood and replacement costs. The CMA will provide a non-specific figure. Being a documented and carefully investigated opinion of value, appraisals are defensible and stand up in legal situations.

Who's behind the report is frankly the biggest difference between a CMA and an appraisal. Real estate agents, who may not have a complete understanding of valuation methods or the entire market, generate CMA's. The appraisal is created by a licensed, certified professional who has made a career out of valuing properties. Likewise, the agent has a vested interest in the property's selling price - their commission - whereas the appraiser is bound by a code of ethics to accept a flat sum for work they perform, regardless of their value conclusion.

What's in an appraisal report?   (See list of FAQ's)

The main purpose of an appraisal document is to let the reader know the value of the real estate in question, and depending on the scope of the report, one will customarily see the following:
  • Who engaged the appraiser and whose purposes the appraisal is to serve.
  • How the appraisal is supposed to be used.
  • The appraisal's purpose.
  • The type of value reported and a definition of that value.
  • The effective date of the appraisal.
  • Pertinent property attributes, including: location, physical description, legal attributes, economic factors, the property rights in question, and non-real estate items included in the valuation, such as personal property, trade fixtures and even intangible considerations.
  • Any known easements, restrictions, encumbrances, leases, reservations, covenants, contracts, declarations, special assessments, ordinances, and the like.
  • Division of interest, such as fractional interest, physical segment and partial holding.
  • What was entailed in the activity of completing the job.
For a more comprehensive look at all that goes into an appraisal report click here: Sample Appraisal Report

After completing the appraisal, what assurance is there that the value indicated is legitimate?   (See list of FAQ's)

In communicating an appraisal report, each appraiser must ensure the following:
  • That the information analysis utilized in the appraisal was proper.

  • Whether individually or collectively, there were no grave errors contained in the report, nor any relevant details left out.

  • That appraisal services were not carried out in a careless or negligent fashion.

  • That a believable, supportable appraisal report was communicated.
To become a state licensed appraiser, we must satisfy extensive education and experience requirements that train us to produce an unbiased opinion. Likewise, appraisers must follow a strict industry code of ethics and respect national standards of practice for real estate appraisal. The guidelines for working up an appraisal and communicating its results are insured by enforcement of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).


    (See list of FAQ's) Licensing and certification is achieved through coursework, tests and experience working under a supervisory appraiser. Once an appraiser is licensed, he/she must then take continuing education courses so the license remains up to date. To see the specific requirements for any state click here.

Who do appraisers work for?   (See list of FAQ's)

Commonly, appraisers are called upon by lenders to render a value opinion on a house involved in a loan transaction - to make sure the subject is truly adequate collateral for the loan. Appraisers also provide opinions for legal settlements, tax matters and investment decisions.

Where does an appraiser get the information used to estimate values in Kershaw County or other areas?   (See list of FAQ's)

Collecting data is one of the primary roles of an appraiser. Data can be split into Specific or General. Specific data is gathered from the property itself; Location, condition, amenities, size and other specific data are gathered by the appraiser while on site.

General data is gathered from a number of places. Local Multiple Listing Services (MLS) have information on recently sold homes that could be used as comparables. To verify actual sales prices, we research tax records and other public documents that are usually online nowadays. Appraisers often have to report when a property lies in a flood zone, so that information is retrieved from a FEMA data outlet such as a la mode's InterFlood service.

And last but not least, the appraiser assembles general data from his or her past experience in doing assignments for other properties in the same market.

What can a full appraisal do for me?   (See list of FAQ's)

An appraisal is a worthwhile anytime the value of your home is relevant to a financial decision. When selling your house, an appraisal helps you set a price that maximizes profit and reduces time on the market. If you're buying, it makes sure you don't overpay. If you're engaged in an estate settlement or divorce, it ensures that property is divided fairly. A house is often the single, largest financial asset anybody owns. Without knowing its real value, wise financial decisions are impossible.

My mortgage statement has an item on it for PMI? Can I get rid of that?   (See list of FAQ's)

PMI is an acronym for Private Mortgage Insurance. It protects the lender in case a borrower doesn't pay on the loan and the market price of the property is lower than what is owed on the loan. You can have your PMI dropped once you've achieved 20% equity in your home through appreciation and principal payments.

Is PMI a part of your monthly house payment?Call Midlands Appraisal Group, LLC today at 8036003836 or send us an e-mail. A current appraisal could save you thousands.

Should I do anything in advance of the appraisal inspection   (See list of FAQ's)

We begin with an inspection of the property. During this process, the appraiser will come to your home and measure it, determine the layout of the rooms inside, confirm all aspects of the home's general condition, and take several photos of your house for inclusion in the report. On the home's interior, make sure it is clutter free and that we can access things like furnaces and water heaters. On the outside, trim any bushes so we can be free to get an accurate measurement of exterior walls.

You can make the inspection go faster and improve the quality of the appraisal report by having the following things on hand:
  • Written property agreements, such as a maintenance agreement for a shared driveway.
  • A list of any personal property that will be left behind and sold with the home, such as an oven, or a washer and dryer, if applicable.
  • Any "Homeowners Associations" agreements or, if applicable, condo agreements or fees .
  • A list of any major home improvements and upgrades, the amount of their purchase and date of their installation (for example, the addition of Energy efficiency upgrades or roof repairs) and permit confirmation (if available).
  • A list of "proposed" improvements if the property is to be appraised "as complete".

Define "Market Value"   (See list of FAQ's)

In real estate appraising, Market Value is commonly defined as:

"The most probable price (in terms of money) which a property should bring in a competitive and open market under all conditions requisite to a fair sale, the buyer and seller each acting prudently and knowledgeably, and assuming the price is not affected by undue stimulus. Implicit in this definition is the consummation of a sale as of a specified date and the passing of title from seller to buyer under conditions whereby: the buyer and seller are typically motivated; both parties are well informed or well advised, and acting in what they consider their best interests; a reasonable time is allowed for exposure in the open market; payment is made in terms of cash in United States dollars or in terms of financial arrangements comparable thereto; and the price represents the normal consideration for the property sold unaffected by special or creative financing or sales concessions granted by anyone associated with the sale."

Does the appraisal belong to the bank or the consumer?   (See list of FAQ's)

For mortgage transactions, the lender requests the appraisal, either directly or through a third party. Even though it's the buyer that eventually pays for the report, the lender is the intended user. The buyer is certainly entitled to a copy of the report - it's usually bundled with all the other closing documents - but is not entitled to use the report for any other purpose without permission from the lender.

The exception to this rule is when a home owner hires an appraiser directly. In these cases, the appraiser may state the purpose of the appraisal; for PMI removal, or estate planning or tax challenges, for example. If not stipulated otherwise, the home owner can use the appraisal for any purpose.

Are some home improvements more worthwhile than others?   (See list of FAQ's)

A home's location - what city it is in and even what part of that city - is key to this popular question. For example, if you live in a cold region, insulated windows can be a real plus. But they aren't as attractive in a warm-weather climate.

No matter where you go, however, renovating a kitchen is almost always a safe move. According to one national survey, kitchen remodels returned an average of 88% of the investment. In other words, a $10,000 kitchen remodeling project would add approximately $8,800 to the value of the home. Bathrooms were second, returning 85%. Adding bedrooms and baths can also help the value of your home (when done well) as long as your home doesn't then become atypical for your neighborhood in terms of size.