Norris Property Consultants, Inc. has answers to "Frequently Asked Questions"

Norris Property Consultants, Inc. is always willing to address any concerns you might have about appraisals or real estate in Maricopa County. Feel free to contact us today.

Define the term "Appraisal"
Describe what an appraiser does
What are the reasons I would request your services?
How is an appraiser different than a home inspector?
What is the difference between an appraisal and a comparative market analysis (CMA)?
What are the contents of an appraisal report?
Once the assignment is done, what assurance is there that the final number is legitimate?
How are appraisers certified?
Who employs appraisers?
Where does Norris Property Consultants, Inc. get the data used to estimate values in Maricopa County or other areas?
What can a full appraisal do for me?
My mortgage statement has an item on it for PMI? Can I get rid of that?
Do you need anything from me in advance?
How does an appraiser define "Market Value"?
Does the appraisal belong to the bank or the consumer?
Which home renovations add the most to the price?



Define the term "Appraisal"   (Return to top)

The appraisal process is an estimation that produces an opinion of value. The appraiser will use a number of "approaches," typically three, to arrive at the estimation of market value. One of the methods in use is the Cost Approach, which is what it would cost to restore the improvements to the home, less the age and physical deterioration, plus the land value. Another of the methods is the Sales Comparison Approach - which involves making a comparable analysis to other similar properties within a close proximity which have recently sold. Being the most commonly used approach, the Sales Comparison Approach is generally the most accurate and best indicator of market value for a home. One of the least common approaches in appraising homes is the Income Approach, which is commonly used to find the market value of a property based on what an investor would pay based on the capital produced by the building.

Describe what an appraiser does   (Return to top)

An appraiser provides a professional, unbiased assessment of market value, in the support of real property exchanges. Appraisers illustate their professional investigation in appraisal reports.


What are the reasons I would request your services?   (Return to top)

There are a lot of reasons to purchase an appraisal from Norris Property Consultants, Inc. with the usual reason being real estate and mortgage transactions. Other reasons for obtaining an report include:
  • If you are applying for a loan.
  • To lower your tax burden.
  • To help a homeowner realize if they owe less than 80% of their home's value and remove insurance.
  • To contest inflated property taxes.
  • If you need to settle an estate.
  • To offer you a leg-up when purchasing a home.
  • To figure out a likely price when putting your home on the market.
  • To ensure parties are provided just compensation in eminient domain cases.
  • Because a government agency such as the IRS requires it.
  • It's possible you could have to deal with being in a lawsuit - an appraisal will definitely help.
For a more extensive description of the appraisal process click here.


How is an appraiser different than a home inspector?   (Return to top)

Appraisers do not do provide home inspections and are not home inspectors. The purpose of a home inspection is to evaluate the structure of the house from bottom to attic. The archetypal home inspector's report will include an evaluation of the integrity of the home's heating system, central air conditioning system (temperature permitting), interior plumbing and electrical systems, the roof, attic, and accessible insulation, walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors, the foundation, basement, and visible structure.

What is the difference between an appraisal and a comparative market analysis (CMA)?   (Return to top)

Frankly, it's like comparing opera to country. What the CMA relies upon are superficial trends. Appraisals use comparable sales which are verifiable resources. The appraisal report will also include neighborhood and construction prices. All a CMA does is generate a "ball park figure." Delivering a defensible and careful analysis, an appraisal will give a clear opinion of value.

The credentials of the person creating the report is frankly the most significant difference between a CMA and an appraisal. Real estate agents write CMA's, and they don't always know the whole market or bear specific competence when it comes to home valuation. A certified, state licensed professional who made a career on valuing homes in and around Maricopa County creates the appraisal. Likewise, the agent has a vested interest in the property's selling price - their commission - whereas the appraiser is bound by a code of ethics to accept a flat fee for assignments, regardless of their value conclusion.

What are the contents of an appraisal report?   (Return to top)

The main point of an appraisal report is to let the reader know the value of the real estate in question, and depending on the scope of the report, one will customarily see the following:
  • The client and whose purposes the appraisal is to serve.
  • How the appraisal is supposed to be used.
  • The purpose of 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!)
  • Relevant property attributes, including: location, physical attributes, legal attributes, economic factors, the property rights in question, and non-real estate items included in the appraisal, such as personal property, permanent equipment installations and even intangible considerations.
  • 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 assignment.
For a more detailed view of all that goes into an appraisal report click here: Sample Appraisal Report

Once the assignment is done, what assurance is there that the final number is legitimate?   (Return to top)

In communicating an appraisal report, each appraiser must ensure the following:
  • That the information analysis utilized in the appraisal was appropriate.

  • Whether individually or collectively, there were no significant errors contained in the report, nor any material details left out.

  • That appraisal services were not conducted in a careless or negligent manner.

  • The final appraisal report was clear, legitimate and conclusive.
To become a state licensed appraiser, we must satisfy considerable education and experience requirements that prepare us to produce an unbiased opinion. Likewise, appraisers must abide by a strict industry code of ethics and comply with national standards of practice for real estate appraisal. The guidelines for carrying out an appraisal and documenting its results are guaranteed by enforcement of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).


    (Return to top) Regulations regarding licensing and certification of Real Estate Appraisers are different from state to state. However, licensing and certification is commonly associated with many hours of classroom study, tests and real world experience. Once licensed, he/she must then engage in continuing education courses so that the license doesn't expire. To see the specific requirements for any state click here.

Who employs appraisers?   (Return to top)

Mortgage lenders are an appraiser's most likely customer, requiring their services to ensure a home involved in a mortgage transaction is adequate collateral for a loan. Appraisers also provide opinions for legal settlements, tax matters and investment decisions.

Where does Norris Property Consultants, Inc. get the data used to estimate values in Maricopa County or other areas?   (Return to top)

Compiling information is one of the primary tasks an appraiser engages in. Data can be categorized as either Specific or General. Specific data is gathered from the home itself; Location, condition, amenities, size and other specifics are gathered by the appraiser while on site.

General data is gathered from a number of places. Local Multiple Listing Services (MLS) provide information on recently sold homes that could be used as comparables. Tax records and other courthouse documents verify actual sales prices in a market. Flood zone data is available from FEMA data outlets, such as a la mode's InterFlood service.

And most importantly, the appraiser assimilates general data from his or her past experience in doing assignments for other properties in the same market.

What can a full appraisal do for me?   (Return to top)

If you're making any kind of financial decision and the value of your home is relevant, you'll want a full appraisal. If you're selling your home, an appraisal assists you in setting a price that maximizes profit and reduces time on the market. If you're buying, it makes sure you don't overpay. If you're engaged in an estate settlement or divorce, it ensures that property is divided fairly. Simply put, a house 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?   (Return to top)

PMI stands for Private Mortgage Insurance. It protects the lender if a borrower is unable to pay on the loan and the value of the home is less than what the borrower still owes on the loan. Once you can prove the amount you owe on your home is less than 80% of the home's market value, you can make a case to your lender to drop the PMI.

The money you keep from getting rid of your PMI pays for the appraisal in a matter of months. Norris Property Consultants, Inc. is a name you can trust when it comes to value trends in Phoenix and Maricopa County. Contact us today.

Do you need anything from me in advance?   (Return to top)

We start with an inspection of the property. What this entails is the appraiser, after setting up an appointment, personally going through the home - recording the layout of the rooms, taking photos and documenting the general condition of its features. On the home's interior, pick up any clutter and make sure we can access things like furnaces and water heaters. In the yard, trim any landscaping so we can be free to get an accurate measurement of outside walls.

The following items, if available, will help your appraiser to provide a more accurate appraisal in a shorter period of time:
  • A plot plan or survey of the house and land (if readily available).
  • Any documents, such as a title policy with information on encroachments or easements encroachments or easements.
  • Any "Homeowners Associations" agreements or, if applicable, condo agreements or fees .
  • Find copies of the current listing agreement, broker's data sheet and, in the event of a pending sale.
  • Most recent real estate tax bill and or legal description of the property.

How does an appraiser define "Market Value"?   (Return to top)

In real estate appraising, Market Value (as opposed to Fair 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?   (Return to top)

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 appraisal - it's usually bundled with all the other closing documents - but is not allowed to use the report for any other purpose without permission from the lender.

This rule doesn't apply when a home owner hires an appraiser directly. In these cases, the appraiser may state how the appraisal can be used; for PMI removal, or estate planning or tax challenges, for example. If not noted otherwise, the home owner can use the appraisal for any purpose.

Which home renovations add the most to the price?   (Return to top)

Like all things real estate, this is dependent on a home's location. For example, if you're in a neigborhood of small to medium priced homes, a media room may not be something people in that price range want

As a rule, the most value returned from renovating a home comes in the kitchen. One recent study revealed that putting $20,000 into a kitchen remodel would add about $17,500 to the value of the home - or about an 88% return on investment. Bathrooms were second, returning 85%. On the contrary, work that may not increase your value would be painting just for the sake of redecorating.