Bachofen Appraisals LLC has answers to "Frequently Asked Questions"


	Bachofen Appraisals LLC is always willing to answer any concerns you might have about appraisals or real estate in Columbia County. Feel free to contact us today.

What is an appraisal?
What does an appraiser do?
What are the reasons a person would require your services?
Is an appraisal the same as a home inspection?
My agent performed a CMA for me. Is that the same as an appraisal?
What are the contents of an appraisal report?
Once the assignment is done, how can I have confidence that the value indicated is veritable?
What does it mean for an appraiser to be licensed?
Who are an appraiser's customers?
Where does Bachofen Appraisals LLC get the data used to estimate values in Columbia County or other areas?
Why should I hire a licensed appraiser?
My mortgage statement has an item on it for PMI? Can I get rid of that?
Should I do anything in advance of the appraisal appointment
Define "Market Value"
Who has rights to the appraisal report?
Which home renovations add the most to the price?

What is an appraisal? (Return to top)

The procedure of creating an appraisal consists of an inspection which leads to an opinion of value. This opinion or estimate is discerned through a formal process that typically uses three "common approaches to value". One of the processes in use is the Cost Approach, which evaluates what it would cost to restore the improvements to the property, less the depreciation and physical deterioration, plus the land value. The Sales Comparison Approach deals with finding similar homes nearby and discovering the value based on making a comparison of those homes to the home being investigated. Being the most popular approach, the Sales Comparison Approach tends to be the most accurate and best indicator of market value for a residential property. The third approach is the Income Approach, which is of most importance in appraising income producing properties - it involves estimating what an investor would pay based on the income generated by the property.

What does an appraiser do? (Return to top)

An appraiser provides a fair and credible assessment of market value, to be used in making real estate transactions. Appraisers reveal the details of their professional findings in appraisal reports.

What are the reasons a person would require your services? (Return to top)

There are many reasons to purchase an appraisal from Bachofen Appraisals LLC with the usual reason being real estate and mortgage transactions. A few other reasons for purchasing an report include:

If you are applying for a loan.
To reduce your tax burden.
To show a homeowner has 30% equity and remove Primary Mortgage Insurance.
To fight improperly assessed property taxes.
To handle an estate.
To give you a negotiating tool when purchasing real estate.
To determine an honest price when selling real estate.
To ensure parties are provided just compensation in eminient domain cases.
Because an official 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.

Click here for a more extensive explanation of the process about getting an appraisal.

Is an appraisal the same as a home inspection? (Return to top)

Home inspectors do not come to an opinion of value and do not do appraisal reports. An inspection is a third-party investigation of the livable structure and mechanical systems of a home, from the roof to the foundation. Usually, a home inspection report will explain the amenities and the requirements of the property: air conditioning (weather permitting), electrical functions, the condition of the heating system, the plumbing; then the structural capacity of the home such as the attic, exposed insulation, walls, floors, ceilings, windows, then the foundation, basement and other visible structures.

My agent performed a CMA for me. Is that the same as an appraisal? (Return to top)

To be honest, they have nothing in common. The CMA utilizes market trends to conduct most of their business. Appraisals use comparable sales which are verifiable resources. Also, the appraisal checks other factors like condition, neighborhood and replacement costs. The CMA will provide a non-specific figure. Being a documented and carefully investigated opinion of value, appraisals are defensible and stand up in legal situations.

But the biggest difference is who's behind the report. Real estate agents, who may not have a complete understanding of valuation methods or the entire market, generate CMA's. A certified, Wisconsin licensed professional who made a career on valuing real estate in and around Columbia County creates the appraisal. Likewise, the agent has something at stake since they get a commission based on the property's selling price whereas the appraiser is bound by a code of ethics to accept a previously agreed upon sum for work they perform, regardless of their outcome.

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

The main objective of an appraisal document 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:

Who engaged the appraiser and other intended users.
How the appraisal is supposed to be used.
The appraisal's purpose.
Precisely what "value" attribute is being reported and what that value means.
The effective date of the appraisal.(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 real property interest valued, and non-real estate items included in the valuation, such as personal property, permanent equipment installations and even intangible factors.
All known easements, restrictions, encumbrances, leases, reservations, covenants, contracts, declarations, special assessments, ordinances, and the like.
Division of interest, such as fractional interest, physical segment and partial holding.
The scope of work used to complete the assignment.

For a more detailed view of what goes into an appraisal report click here: Sample Appraisal Report

Once the assignment is done, how can I have confidence that the value indicated is veritable? (Return to top)

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

That the information analysis implemented in the appraisal was appropriate.

Whether individually or collectively, there were no major errors contained in the report, nor any relevant details left out.

That appraisal services were rendered in a careful and judicious manner.

The final appraisal report was clear, legitimate and conclusive.

There are rigorous classroom and on the job experience requirements that must be met in order to become a licensed appraiser in Wisconsin. Plus, appraisers must abide by a stringent industry code of ethics and observe national standards of practice for real estate appraisal. The guidelines for carrying out an appraisal and communicating its results are guaranteed by enforcement of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).

(Return to top) Licensing and certification requires coursework, tests and real world experience. Once licensed, he/she is required to complete continuing education courses so that the license doesn't expire. To see the specific requirements for any state click here.

Who are an appraiser's customers? (Return to top)

Most of the time, appraisers are hired by lenders to render a value opinion on a house involved in a loan transaction. Appraisers also provide opinions in litigation cases, tax matters and investment decisions.

Where does Bachofen Appraisals LLC get the data used to estimate values in Columbia County or other areas? (Return to top)

One of the main things an appraiser does is to compile property data. Data can be categorized as either Specific or General. Specific data is from the property itself; Location, condition, amenities, size and other specific data are documented by the appraiser during an inspection.

General data is received from a number of sources. Local Multiple Listing Services (MLS) have data on recently sold homes that might be used as comparables. 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 system.

And last but not least, the appraiser assimilates general data from his or her past experience in doing assignments for other houses in the same market.

Why should I hire a licensed appraiser? (Return to top)

If you're making any kind of financial decision and the value of your home matters, you'll want a full appraisal. For those selling a home, you'll want to figure out the price that gets you the most profit but also ensures you don't have to wait too long for a buyer to show up; an appraisal can help with that. 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 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? (Return to top)

PMI is short for for Private Mortgage Insurance. This supplemental plan protects the lender if a borrower defaults on the loan and the value of the home is less than the balance of the loan. You can have your PMI dropped once you've achieved 20% equity in your home through appreciation and principal payments.


	The savings from getting rid of the PMI required when you got your mortgage will make up for the cost of the appraisal in no time. Nobody is more qualified than Bachofen Appraisals LLC when it comes to analyzing real estate appreciation in Columbus and Columbia County. Contact us today.

Should I do anything in advance of the appraisal appointment (Return to top)

The first step in most appraisals is the home inspection. 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. Is there anything you can do to help? Yes there is! First, be sure we have easy access to the exterior of the house . Trim any shrubs and relocate any items that would make it difficult to measure the structure. On the inside, make sure the appraiser can get to items like furnaces and water heaters.

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 available).
List of personal property to be sold with the building.
Any documents, such as a title policy with information on encroachments or easements encroachments or easements.
A list of any major home improvements and enhancements, the amount of their purchase and date of their installation (for example, the addition of Energy efficiency upgrades or roof repairs) and permit confirmation (if available).
Find copies of the current listing agreement, broker's data sheet and, in the event of a pending sale.

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."

Who has rights to the appraisal report? (Return to top)

For mortgage transactions, the lender requests the appraisal, either directly or through a third party. 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 entitled to a copy of the appraisal - it's usually included 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 engaging the appraiser for things outside securing a mortgage. In these situations, the appraiser may define how the appraisal can be used; for PMI removal, or estate planning or tax challenges, for example. If not stipulated otherwise, the home owner can do whatever they want with the appraisal.

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, while quality appliances are attractive, a $7000 built-in refrigerator won't pay off in a neighborhood of moderately priced homes

No matter where you go, however, renovating a kitchen is almost always a safe investment. 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 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.