FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
The typical fee for an honest well supported appraisal in Metro Atlanta is $400. There are companies that offer a lower fee for an inferior product and that offer a higher fee when it shouldn't be paid. We strongly encourage all consumers to not shop for fast and cheap when it comes to valuing the biggest asset most people own. Fast and cheap leads to cutting corners and writing what is referred to as "boiler plate" reports with little to no analysis actually completed.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
The first goal is to understand the client and what's driving the desire to obtain an appraisal. Once that is done we recommend what type of analysis would be best. We would then schedule a date and time to inspect the property and encourage the client to tell us anything they have done to the property recently. After the inspection, and using what we collected during the inspection, we research the sub-market and build an analysis to determine the market value of the property is. We compile the report, reconcile the analysis, and deliver the report to the client. We do our best to explain the analysis in laymen terms and make ourselves available to the client to answer any questions they might have.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Aside from having a college degree, a certified appraiser has to take an initial 105 hours of tested training, pass a state test, and then obtain their trainee license. They then spend the next 2-3 years obtaining field experience working with a mentor. While the trainee is being mentored they have to take an additional 90 hours of tested training before they are allowed to sit for the state license test. In all, a certified appraiser has a college degree, takes 195 hours of tested classes, and trains for 2-3 years before becoming a certified appraiser.