Pre-Listing / Seller Advisory

A pre-listing appraisal is ordered by you, the seller, not by a lender. That means it works for you. The appraiser documents the home's condition, upgrades, and features so nothing of value is overlooked, and the report becomes a pricing tool rather than a loan requirement.

Unlike a lender's appraisal that arrives after you have already accepted an offer, a pre-listing appraisal gives you the number before negotiations begin. If the buyer's appraisal later comes in low, your report gives you documented evidence to challenge it and keep the deal together.

A pre-listing appraisal also differs from an agent's Comparative Market Analysis. A CMA is a helpful pricing opinion, but it is not an independent valuation. An appraisal follows standardized methodology, is performed by a licensed professional with no commission at stake, and holds up when questioned.

A Comparative Market Analysis is prepared by a real estate agent using recent sales data, and it is typically free. It is a useful starting point, but it is an opinion built to win a listing, and agents have an incentive to tell you what you want to hear.

A professional appraisal is an independent, unbiased valuation performed by a licensed appraiser following USPAP standards. The appraiser inspects the home, verifies its features and condition, makes documented adjustments to comparable sales, and certifies the conclusion.

In fast-moving markets the difference matters even more. Comps from six months ago may badly misstate today's value, and an appraiser's job is to measure exactly how the market has moved. When tens of thousands of dollars ride on the listing price, an unbiased number is worth far more than it costs.