What are the parts of an appraisal?

A home purchase can be the largest financial decision many of us might ever consider. It doesn't matter if it's a main residence, a seasonal vacation property or one of many rentals, purchasing real property is an involved financial transaction that requires multiple parties to pull it all off.


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Most people are familiar with the parties having a role in the transaction. The real estate agent is the most familiar entity in the exchange. Next, the bank provides the financial capital needed to finance the transaction. The title company makes sure that all areas of the exchange are completed and that the title is clear to pass from the seller to the purchaser.

So what party is responsible for making sure the real estate is consistent with the amount being paid? In comes the appraiser. We provide an unbiased estimate of what a buyer might expect to pay - or a seller receive - for a property, where both buyer and seller are informed parties. A professional Arizona licensed appraiser from Assured Appraisals, LLC. will ensure you as an interested party are informed.

The inspection is where an appraisal starts

To ascertain the true status of the property, it's our responsibility to first complete a thorough inspection. We must physically see aspects of the property, such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the location, amenities, etc., to ensure they indeed are there and are in the shape a reasonable buyer would expect them to be. The inspection often includes a sketch of the floor plan, ensuring the square footage is accurate and illustrating the layout of the property. Most importantly, the appraiser identifies any obvious features - or defects - that would have an impact on the value of the property.

After the inspection, an appraiser employs two or three approaches when determining the value of real property: sales comparison and, in the case of a rental property, an income approach.

Replacement Cost

Here, we gather information on local construction costs, labor rates and other elements to determine how much it would cost to replace the property being appraised. This figure often sets the upper limit on what a property would sell for. It's also the least used predictor of value.

Sales Comparison

Appraisers get to know the neighborhoods in which they work. We innately understand the value of particular features to the homeowners of that area. Then, the appraiser researches recent transactions in close proximity to the subject and finds properties which are 'comparable' to the real estate being appraised. By assigning a dollar value to certain items such as remodeled rooms, types of flooring, energy efficient items, patios and porches, or additional storage space, we add or subtract from each comparable's sales price so that they more accurately match the features of subject property.

For example, if the comparable property has an irrigation system and the subject doesn't, the appraiser may deduct the value of an irrigation system from the sales price of the comparable home.
But, in the case where the subject has something such as an extra half bath that a comparable doesn't have, the appraiser might add the value of that bath to the comparable property.

At Assured Appraisals, LLC., we are an authority when it comes to knowing the value of particular items in Payson and Gila County neighborhoods. The sales comparison approach to value is usually awarded the most consideration when an appraisal is for a real estate sale.

Valuation Using the Income Approach

In the case of income producing properties - rental houses for example - we may use a third way of valuing a house. In this case, the amount of income the real estate yields is factored in with income produced by comparable properties to derive the current value.

The Bottom Line

A residential appraisal is a professional opinion of a property’s market value as of a specific effective date. Each report is prepared in compliance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and is designed for the assignment’s intended use and intended users. Appraisals are based on thorough data analysis, market research, and local expertise. This ensures a credible, well-supported opinion of value, without guaranteeing future market conditions or outcomes.