Ike Slaughter Appraisal Services

read moreIf you are planning to sell your home, it might be a wise decision to make a small investment in a professional appraisal. Unless you study real estate values on a day to day basis, like a professional appraiser does, it's difficult for you to get a handle on real estate values. We aren't talking about how much you have invested in your home, how much you paid for it, or how much you want for it. We're talking about the true market value of your home, which could really pay off for you in the long run!

read moreEvery 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. 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? One 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.

read moreLenders, mortgage brokers and others can now order appraisal reports online from my website. What are the advantages of online ordering? It saves time. Where before we would have had to rekey all the property and assignment information from your fax or e-mail, with online ordering we can simply import the property details into our report preparation software. When you order online, you also get status updates on the report whenever you want them, 24/7 - no more playing phone or fax tag. We communicate with one another better.

read moreHomeowners need appraisals or appraisal reviews for a variety of reasons, including a mortgage refinance, home equity loans, Pre-listing services, and PMI removal. When you order an appraisal or review from us, you can rest assured that you will get the best in professional service, courtesy, and quality. Be sure that you request us if your lender asks you for YOUR choice of appraisal firms. More than likely we are already on their "approved list", and if not we will quickly provide your lender with the necessary documentation to become approved.

read moreAn appraiser's primary responsibility is to his or her client. Normally, in residential practice, the appraiser's client is the lender ordering the appraisal to decide whether to make the mortgage loan. Appraisers have certain duties of confidentiality to their clients -- as a homeowner, if you want a copy of an appraisal report, you normally have to request it through your lender -- obligations of numerical accuracy depending on the assignment parameters, an obligation to attain and maintain a certain level of competency and education, and must generally conduct him or herself as a professional.

read moreWe offer a full range of Real Estate Appraisal services, with experience in many types of property. We are also experienced in litigation support and expert witness services. Clients who have used our expert testimony services include government agencies, tax entities, financial institutions, legal and accounting firms and many other businesses. In many cases, our independent, supportable analysis has allowed clients to settle cases without going to court. An appraiser must remain unbiased in performing an appraisal of a property.

read moreWhen interviewing a home inspector, ask the inspector what type of report format he or she provides. There are many styles of reports used by property inspectors, including the checklist, computer generated using inspection programs, and the narrative style. The most important issue with an inspection report is the descriptions given for each item or component. A report that indicates the condition as "Good", "Fair" or "Poor" without a detailed explanation is vague and can be easily misinterpreted.

read moreMore and more homeowners today are choosing to sell their homes FSBO (For Sale By Owner) and foregoing the help of a real estate agent. Selling your home by this method can end up saving you a potential "hefty" commission (industry average is 5-7% of the home's selling price).Plus many FSBO sellers feel that they have more control in the process of selling their home since they're in essence making all the rules. According to the National Association of Realtors, over 70% of all homebuyers now use the Internet to search for homes so if your house isn't on the internet, it should be.