When choosing an appraiser in San Diego it is important to select someone that is experienced, educated, and familiar with the market. Appraisers experience can vary depending on what types of homes they have inspected, areas they have appraised, how much education they have completed, and how long they have been an appraiser.
Cheap Can Be Risky
Often times when selecting an appraiser people tend to shop around for the cheapest quote which can be risky. In many instances there is probably a reason they are quoting lower than other appraisers. Don’t choose an appraiser solely based on price, it is not worth the risk because in most cases you get what you pay for.
Many people are worried about going over budget for an appraiser however a cheap appraiser can often be risky and cost more in the end. When hiring an appraiser there are a few things you can do to make sure you are hiring a quality appraiser. The first suggestion is to ask for referrals, ask friends, family, and real estate professionals that are located in your market area. You can always research for a San Diego appraiser on line whether or not they are a referral.
Questions to ask your appraiser
Once you have selected one or more appraisers contact them with some questions that will help you verify their experience. These are basic questions for an appraiser that they should be willing and able to answer.
- Ask for their full name as well as their license or certificate number. If they choose not to share this information with you, you should consider choosing a different appraiser. This is something that the appraiser should be willing to share with you it is not privileged information.
- Once you have their license number find out what level of license they have. There are three types of appraisers which are Trainees, Licensed (AL), and Certified(AR) appraisers. Never hire a trainee without a certified mentor, they do not have a lot of experience and a certified appraiser needs to be involved in every process of the appraisal. An AL appraiser can appraiser properties up to $1 million, while and AR appraiser can perform any residential appraisal up to or above $1 million, including complex properties.
- It can also be helpful to know how long the appraiser has been appraising for and how long they have been appraising in your market area. Five to ten years is usually a safe number however if they have been appraising longer it usually means they have more experience. Don’t forget to ask how many years of experience the appraiser has had.
- Find out where the appraisers office is located and areas they are familiar with. It is a good idea to make sure that your appraiser is located close to your market area and is familiar with it. You can also ask the appraiser how many appraisals they have completed in your market area.
Although these may seem like simple question they can give you a better insight into how experienced and qualified your appraiser is. Brandlin Appraisals Inc. specialize in helping people who need appraisals for estate purposes, divorce, date of death, bankruptcy, FSBO’s and more throughout San Diego county. For more information please contact us at (760)741-7699, or visit our website at Brandlinappraisals.com, or email us at admin@brandlinappraisals.com
Mike Brandlin
San Diego, CA // Real Estate Appraiser
www.brandlinappraisals.com
(760) 741-7699
San Diego Real Estate Appraisal Services For:
* Divorce Appraisals / Marriage Dissolution
* Bankruptcy Appraisals
* Bail Bonds Appraisals
* Estate / Date of Death / Retrospective Appraisals
* Financial Planning & Trusts
* PMI Removal Appraisals
* Pre-Foreclosure & Short Sales
* Tax Assessment Appeals
* Pre-Listing, Pre-Purchase, FSBO’s
* Probate Appraisals
