Integrity Appraisals of Central Florida, LLC has answers to "Frequently Asked Questions"

• Who engaged the appraiser and whose purposes the appraisal is to serve.
• The intended use of the appraisal.
• The appraisal's purpose.
• The type of value contained and a definition of the value reported.
• The effective date of the appraisal.(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 description, legal attributes, economic factors, the property rights valued, and non-real estate items included in the appraisal, such as personal property, trade fixtures and even intangible considerations.
• All 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 report has been completed, how can I have a guarantee that the final number is accurate?   (Top)

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

• The appraisal contained a suitable analysis of the data.


• Whether individually or collectively, there were no substantial errors contained in the appraisal, nor any relevant details left out.


• That appraisal services were provided in a careful and conscientious manner.


• The final appraisal report was easy to explain, sound and defensible.

There are rigorous education and experience requirements that must be adhered to in order to become a licensed appraiser in Florida. In addition, appraisers must abide by a meticulous industry code of ethics and respect national standards of practice for real estate appraisal. The guidelines for developing an appraisal and reporting its results are insured by enforcement of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).


   (Top) Regulations regarding licensing and certification are different from state to state. However, licensing and certification typically translates to many hours of coursework, tests and practical experience. Once an appraiser is licensed, he or she is required to complete continuing education courses in order to keep the license current. To see the specific requirements for any state click here.

Who do appraisers work for?   (Top)

Commonly, appraisers are called upon by lenders to render a value opinion on real estate involved in a loan transaction. Attorneys and CPAs also hire appraisers for divorce and estate settlements.

Where does Integrity Appraisals of Central Florida, LLC get the information used to estimate values in Polk County or other areas?   (Top)

One of the primary tasks an appraiser must accomplish is to collect data. Data can be classified as either Specific or General. Specific data is collected from the property itself; Location, condition, amenities, size and other specifics are gathered by the appraiser during an inspection.

General data is gathered from a number of places. To find out about 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 gathered from FEMA data outlets, such as a la mode's InterFlood system.

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

Why do I need a professional appraisal?   (Top)

An appraisal is a worthwhile whenever the value of your home is relevant to a financial decision. If you're selling your home, an appraisal helps you set a price that maximizes profit and reduces time on the market. When buying, you can avoid 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. Knowing its true value means you can make the right financial decisions.

My mortgage statement has an item on it for PMI? Can I get rid of that?   (Top)

PMI stands for Private Mortgage Insurance. This additional policy guards the lender if a borrower defaults on the loan and the value of the house is less than the balance of 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.

	Has your home value appreciated since you first purchased? Call Integrity Appraisals of Central Florida, LLC today at (863) 420-8387. You may be able to cancel your Private Mortgage Insurance premium.

Should I do anything in advance of the appraisal appointment   (Top)

We start with an inspection of the property. During this process, we 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 the appraiser has easy access to the exterior of the house (gates aren't locked, etc). Trim any shrubs and move any items that would get in our way while we measure the structure. Indoors, make sure we can easily access appliances like furnaces and water heaters.

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

• A plot plan or survey of the house and land (if readily available).
• Information on any written private easements, such as a shared driveway with a neighbor.
• A bill for your most recent real estate taxes which should also contain a legal description of the property.
• Home inspection reports, or other recent reports for termites, EIFS (synthetic stucco) wall systems, septic systems and your well.
• Locate copies of the current listing agreement, broker's data sheet and, in the event of a pending sale.

What is "Market Value?"   (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?   (Top)

In most real estate transactions, the appraisal is ordered by the lender. Even though it's the buyer that eventually pays for the report, the lender is the intended user. The buyer is entitled to a copy of the appraisal - 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.

This rule doesn't apply when a home owner hires an appraiser directly. In these cases, the appraiser may define 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.

I want to get more for my house. Where should I spend money renovating?   (Top)

It really depends on the market. For example, putting in an inline humidifier could be nice in arid regions, but completely useless near the coast!

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 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.