REASONS TO GET AN APPRAISALEvery year, countless people in the United States buy, sell or refinance their own slice of the American Dream.  Most, if not all, of these transactions include a simple line item for an appraisal.  It has become an understood and accepted part of a real estate transaction.  "Let's bring in the expert and make sure we're not spending too much on this property." But is this the only reason to get an appraisal? Are there other times when the services of a certified, licensed, independent real estate professional might come in handy?  You bet. PURCHASE OF A HOMEOne of the most important issues involved in purchasing a property is developing an opinion of what it's worth so that you can make an informed offer to purchase.  A professional appraisal report performed by a qualified, state-licensed appraiser can provide you with an objective, third party opinion of a property's current Market Value.  And for the small price of this service, you can give yourself "peace of mind" prior to making an offer to purchase that you're offering a fair price for the property.  REFINANCE OR GET A HOME EQUITY LOANIf you need to consolidate bills, have a college tuition to pay, or just want to tap into the equity of your home, you'll need a new loan, which oftentimes requires a new appraisal of the property. PMI REMOVALPrivate Mortgage Insurance or PMI is the supplemental insurance that many lenders ask home buyers to purchase when the amount being loaned is more than 80% of the value of the home. Very often, this additional payment is folded into the monthly mortgage payment and is quickly forgotten. This is unfortunate because PMI becomes unnecessary when the remaining balance of the loan - whether through market appreciation or principal paydown - dips below this 80% level. In fact, the United States Congress passed a law in 1998 (the Homeowners Protection Act of 1998) that requires lenders to remove the PMI payments when the loan-to-value ratio conditions have been met. Many appraisers offer a specific service for home owners that believe they have met the 80% loan-to-value metric. For a nominal fee, the appraiser can provide you with a statement regarding the home value. Some will even take the next step and help you file a challenge with your mortgage company. The costs of these services are very often recovered in just a few months of not paying the PMI. DIVORCE SETTLEMENTA divorce can be a particularly traumatic experience for both parties and is often further complicated by the difficult decision of "Who gets the house?".  In most divorce cases, the Court won't usually force the parties involved to "buyout" the other party's interest but it may however order the sale of the home so each party gets an equal share of the equity.  Regardless of the situation, it's a good idea to order an appraisal so both parties are fully aware of what the true market value is. If the parties want to sell the home, they'll have a better idea of what price to set.  And on the flipside, if a "buyout" is the chosen option, both parties will feel like they've gotten a fair assessment. ESTATE LIQUIDATIONThe loss of a loved one is a difficult time in life and settling an estate from a death, or probate, often requires an appraisal to establish Fair Market Value for the residential property involved.  The ethics provision within the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) binds us with confidentiality, ensuring the fullest degree of discretion. Unlike many wealthy individuals, the majority of Americans do not have dedicated estate planners or executors to handle these issues.  Also, in most cases, a home or other real property makes up a disproportionate share of the total estate value. Here too, an appraiser can help.  Often the first step in fairly disposing of an estate is to understand its true value.  Where property is involved, the appraiser can help determine the true value.  At this point, equitable arrangements can more easily be arrived at among disputing parties. Everyone walks away knowing they've received a fair deal. RELOCATIONWe understand the stress involved with an employee relocation.  We take great care in establishing a convenient appointment time for the appraisal inspection. During our thorough inspection, we encourage relocating employees to provide input on the positive attributes of their property along with information about any recent sales or listings in their neighborhood that they want considered. HOME IMPROVEMENTS TO ADD VALUEBefore you decide to sell your home, there are several decisions to be made. First and foremost: "How much should it sell for?"  But don't forget there may be other equally important questions to ask yourself such as "Would it be better to paint the entire house before we sell it?", "Should I put in that third bathroom?", "Should I complete my kitchen remodel?"  Many things which we do to our houses have an effect on their value.  Unfortunately, not all of them have an equal effect. While a kitchen remodel may improve the appeal of a home, it may not add nearly enough to the value to justify the expense. SELLING A HOMEWhether you choose to sell your home on your own or use the assistance of a real estate agent, a professional appraisal can help you make a better educated decision when determining your selling price. Unlike a real estate agent, an appraiser has no vested interest in what amount the house sells for.  It's easy for them to step in and give you the information to help you make your decision.  Appraiser fees are based on efforts to complete the report and not a percentage of the sales price. So seeking a professional appraisal can often help homeowners make the best decisions on investing in their homes and setting a fair sales price. ...read more

40 Year Re-certification on commercial buildingsGENERAL CONSIDERATIONS_______________________________________________________________________________________________________40 Year Re-certification on commercial buildingsGENERAL CONSIDERATIONS_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ...read more

40 Year Re-certification on commercial buildingsGENERAL CONSIDERATIONS_______________________________________________________________________________________________________40 Year Re-certification on commercial buildingsGENERAL CONSIDERATIONS_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ...read more

For most people, the purchase of a home is the largest investment they’ll ever make. Getting an independent, expert opinion on the operability of the structure and its systems is a no-brainer. But not all home inspectors have the same experience, training, or certifications – what’s more is there are currently no federal regulations governing home inspectors. Home inspectors are governed only by whatever laws are in place in the state in which the inspection is performed, and these laws vary greatly. So how do you make sure you’ve hired the right person for the job? When shopping for a home inspector, it’s vital that you do your homework and interview each inspector based on the checklist below. Do not price shop.  When hiring a home inspector, you’re basically hiring an advocate with your interests in mind to give you their expert opinion on the home’s condition.  With that in mind, making sure that you’re hiring an inspector with plenty of knowledge and training means not shopping for one by price alone.  Training, certifications, and continuing education don’t come cheap to the inspectors and therefore, their expertise isn’t going to be cheap either.  When it comes to home inspections – as with most things – you get what you pay for. Research their credentials.  Since there are no national standards for home inspectors, one of the best things you can do to find out about an inspector’s qualifications is to ask what associations they belong to.  Some associations require minimum training, experience, continuing education and also require the inspector pass certain exams.  However, not all associations are created equal.  Check out the associations’ minimum requirements.  The best associations require that the inspector pass yearly exams and obtain a specific amount of continuing education credits.  Also find out what level of the association the inspector occupies.  Some associations have “candidate” and “associate” or other levels that basically mean that the inspector has not met the requirements to be a full member.  Also ask what certifications the inspector holds and then research them as well. Ask for references.  An inspector should be happy to provide you with three references from previous clients.  Call those clients and ask them about their experience with their inspections. Make sure they’re insured.  A professional inspector should be insured for “errors and omissions”, commonly called E&O insurance.  This means that if the inspector misses something during the inspection, you can file a claim against that insurance for the repairs of the problem.  Also, check the inspector’s contract for limited liability clauses that limit their responsibility for damages. Make your own decision.  Some states allow real estate agents and other professionals to make recommendations on what home inspector to hire.  Besides the obvious conflict of interest issues, a recommendation does not necessarily guarantee that the inspector is the best choice.  Make your own decision based on your research. Ask to see one of their inspection reports.  At the conclusion of any inspection, you should receive a report on the inspector’s findings.  Again, inspectors are going to vary widely – report styles can range from the minimal checklist to the jargon-filled narrative.  Inspection reports can be difficult to understand, so it’s important that you check out a sample report.  Items marked as “fair”, “poor”, or “inadequate” without any further explanation will not help you understand what the problem is or what exactly to repair.  Make sure that the inspector always specifies the exact problem and recommended repairs.  The inspector should also indicate an estimated cost of any repairs he or she recommends. ...read more

Hidden water damage Water is a powerful force. Any doubt of this fact can be erased by a simple visit to the Grand Canyon. And while your home is in no danger of becoming one of the Seven Wonders of the World, water can wreak havoc on a much smaller scale.   Water damage can come from several sources: floods, burst pipes, leaky roofs, seepage, etc. Many types are obvious, as is the damage caused by them. But even if you can’t see the damage right away, a slow flow of water can often be worse than obvious leaks. Left untreated, it can cause:   Pipe corrosion Foundation damage Foul odors Mold   Repairing hidden water damage can be an even greater challenge. Depending upon the source of the damage, it may or may not be covered by homeowner’s insurance. In the case of mold, getting rid of the problem may be a monumental undertaking.   How can you protect yourself from this menace? A professional inspection can help. Using advanced moisture detection devices, coupled with years of experience, we can often detect water damage long before it becomes a problem.     ...read more

A Wind Mitigation Inspection is a valuable inspection service that may reduce your windstorm insurance. Wind Insurance discounts are available for building features that reduce damage during high wind events. The Wind Mitigation discounts are justified because stronger, more wind-resistive structures have lower windstorm losses, which mean reduced costs to insurance companies. Most existing structures have one or more wind resistive construction features and may qualify for some Wind Mitigation insurance discounts. Wind Mitigation Inspections are available for all single family homes, townhouses, condos and commercial buildings. Homeowner's and Condo Associations also qualify for wind mitigation credits. Call to see if a Wind Mitigation Inspection would be recommended.The Statete Florida REQUIRES Insurance Companies to offerREDUCED RATES for certain Wind Mitigation features.We will document the Wind Mitigation features present in your home and produce a WIND MITIGATION CERTIFICATE for you to use inorder to receive your wind mitigation credits on your Wind Insurance policy. The Wind Mitigation Inspection must be performed by Certified  Wind Mitigation Inspectors.   Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form (OIR-B1-1802) – This form was developed by the Office of Insurance Regulation and must be completed and signed by a Qualified Inspector (786)282-9031 ...read more