Martinus Appraisal has answers to "Frequently Asked Questions"

• The client and whose purposes the appraisal is to serve.
• How the appraisal is supposed to be used.
• The reason for the assignment.
• Precisely what "value" attribute is being reported and what that value means.
• The effective date of the appraiser's opinions and conclusions.(Sometimes this is in the past or maybe the future for new construction!)
• Characteristics of the property that have a bearing on the value, including: location, physical characteristics, legal attributes, economic factors, the real property interest in question, and non-real estate items included in the appraisal, such as personal property, items that are more or less permanently installed and even intangible items.
• Any known easements, restrictions, encumbrances, leases, reservations, covenants, contracts, declarations, special assessments, ordinances, and other items of a similar nature.
• Division of interest, such as fractional interest, physical segment and partial holding.
• What was involved in the activity of completing the job.

Once the assignment is done, how can I have confidence that the value conclusion is veritable?   (Go to list of  questions)

In communicating an appraisal report, each appraiser must see to it that each of the items below are covered:

• The appraisal contained analysis of the information.


• That crucial errors of omission or commission were not committed individually or collectively.


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


• That a trustworthy, defensible appraisal report was imparted.

To become a state licensed appraiser, there are intense education requirements as well as practical experience that must be attained. Plus, appraisers must stick to a meticulous industry code of ethics and observe national standards of practice for real estate appraisal. The tenets for carrying out an appraisal and documenting its results are insured by enforcement of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).


   (Go to list of  questions)

Regulations regarding licensing and certification vary from state to state. In general, licensing and certification is most often associated with many hours of coursework, tests and real world experience. Once an appraiser is licensed, he/she must then take continuing education courses so that the license doesn't expire. To see the specific requirements for any state click here.

Who employs appraisers?   (Go to list of  questions)

Most of the time, appraisers are employed by lenders to render a value opinion on a home involved in a loan transaction - to make sure the real estate is indeed adequate collateral for the loan. Appraisers also provide opinions for legal settlements, tax matters and investment decisions.

Where does an appraiser get the data used to estimate values in Saginaw County or other areas?   (Go to list of  questions)

Gathering information is one of the main tasks an appraiser engages in. Data can be split into Specific or General. Specific data is from the property itself; Location, condition, amenities, size and other specific data are documented by the appraiser while on site.

General data is received from a many sources. To research recent sales to be used as "comps", we typically go to the local Multiple Listing Service. Tax records and other public documents verify actual sales prices in a market. Flood zone data is available from FEMA data outlets, such as a la mode's InterFlood servers.

And last but not least, the appraiser gathers general data from his or her collective knowledge gained from creating appraisals for other properties in the same market.

How can a licensed appraiser help me?   (Go to list of  questions)

An appraisal is a valuable tool whenever the value of your home is relevant to some financial decision. If you're selling your house, an appraisal will help you determine the most appropriate price. When buying, be sure you're not overpaying by commissioning an independent appraisal. If you're engaged in an estate settlement or divorce, it ensures that property is divided fairly. A home 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?   (Go to list of  questions)

PMI stands for Private Mortgage Insurance. This supplementary plan protects the lender if a borrower doesn't pay on the loan and the market price of the property is less than the loan balance. You can have your PMI dropped once you've achieved 20% equity in your home through appreciation and principal payments.

	Has your home value appreciated since you first purchased? Call Martinus Appraisal today at 989-244-6500. You may be able to cancel your Private Mortgage Insurance premium.

Does the appraiser need anything from the homeowner in advance?   (Go to list of  questions)

We start with an inspection of the home. 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. The best thing you can do to help is make sure we have easy access to the exterior of the house (gates aren't locked, etc). Trim any landscaping and relocate any items that would make it difficult to measure the structure. On the inside, make sure the appraiser can get to appliances like furnaces and water heaters.

You can make our visit go faster and improve the accuracy of the appraisal report by having the following things on hand:

• A survey or plot map of the property and building (if available).
• Information on any written private agreements, such as a shared driveway with a neighbor.
• Any documents, such as a title policy with information on encroachments or easements encroachments or easements.
• Any inspection reports, or other recent reports for termites, EIFS (synthetic stucco) wall systems, septic systems and wells.
• A list of "suggested" improvements if the property is to be appraised "as complete".

What is "Market Value?"   (Go to list of  questions)

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?   (Go to list of  questions)

In most real estate transactions, the appraisal is ordered by the lender. While the buyer pays for the report as part of the closing costs, the lender retains the right to use the report or any information contained within. 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.

It's different when it's the homeowner hiring the appraiser for things outside securing a mortgage. In these situations, 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?   (Go to list of  questions)

This really depends on where the home is. For example, adding a central air conditioner in to a home in the South may add significant value, while putting one in a home near the Pacific Northwest might not have much impact.

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 weren't far behind, returning 85%. On the contrary, work that may not increase your value would be painting just for the sake of redecorating.