Correctly Assessing the Value of Your Home

Green Escrow | Home inspection

It’s not hard to see the importance of getting an accurate appraisal of the value of your home before you attempt to sell. Undervalue it and you risk leaving money on the table. Overvalue it and risk having it sit on the market for months and potentially turning off would-be buyers if you’re forced to lower the asking price.

Nationwide appraisals tend to be lightly lower than the values expected by homeowners while in the Bay Area the reverse is true as homeowners underestimate the value.

While there are a number of online tools available, experts agree that hiring a professional property appraiser or having a trusted real estate broker familiar with your neighborhood is the way to go to get an accurate estimate of the value of your home.

Homeowner vs Appraiser Valuation: Getting Closer

Green Escrow | Real Estate

A recent article in Realty Biz News highlighted the closing gap between home owners and appraisers estimations of the value of homes. Quicken Loans Home Price Perception Index reported that in November 2014 appraisers valued homes 1.56 higher than homeowners.

This is important as mortgage financing often depends on whether the appraised value of a home is in accordance with the value agreed upon by the home seller and buyer. In the case of a refinance, the appraised value should coincide withthe home owner’s estimated value. Industry experts say that appraisers valuing homes above the home owner’s estimates makes for a much smoother mortage process in general