Kent & Associates Appraisal

read moreThousands of people in Washington buy, sell or refinance their home every year. Many of these transactions consist of a simple line item for an appraisal. And even though there are a developing number of automated home valuation methods that may appear to be more practical than an appraisal, the majority of lenders still call for a local expert because the stakes are incredibly high. You might assume that securing a mortgage is the only reason to get an appraisal, but there are other cases when the services of a certified, independent real estate professional might come in handy.

read moreSelling your home? You would be wise to invest in a professional appraisal. An appraisal doesn't cost that much and it pays in the long run! Unless the homeowner studies real estate values on a day to day basis, like a professional appraiser does, it's difficult for them to get a handle on real estate market forces. This isn't a discussion of how much you have invested in your home, or the amount you'd like to get for it. Rather, a appraisal provides a professional opinion on your home's market value.

read moreConsumers today buy just about everything online - Now it's just as easy to order an appraisal online. At Kent & Associates Appraisal we're always pleased to take your appraisal request on the phone or from a fax. However were you aware that ordering electronically is mutually advantageous? Manually retyping property data from your order went away with the typewriter. Today with online ordering we can effortlessly import the property details into our report preparation software. When you order an appraisal online with Kent & Associates Appraisal, you also benefit from status updates on the report any time you want them, 24/7 - putting an end to the annoying phone tag.

read moreWhat is USPAP? USPAP, which you might hear pronounced like "YOOS-pap, " is the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. USPAP is published and maintained by the Appraisal Standards Board (ASB) of the Appraisal Foundation, a non-governmental entity charged by Congress with promulgating appraisal standards. USPAP is revised periodically, usually annually, and almost never radically. It includes sections covering rules, such as an Ethics Rule, a Departure Rule, and a Competency Rule. It includes Standards, 10 of them, each covering in detail different functions an appraiser might perform ("Real Property Appraisal, Reporting"; "Business Appraisal, Development").

read moreA home purchase can be the largest investment many could ever consider. It doesn't matter if a primary residence, a seasonal vacation property or a rental fixer upper, the purchase of real property is a detailed transaction that requires multiple parties to make it all happen. It's likely you are familiar with the parties taking part in the transaction. The real estate agent is the most recognizable entity in the transaction. Then, the bank provides the financial capital needed to fund the exchange.

read moreTo help the appraisal go as smoothly as possible we generally recommend you take the following actions and prepare the listed documents, if available, for the appraiser.

read moreNo matter what type of home you possess, our ongoing analysis of local real estate trends and formal training as licensed appraisers make us qualified to provide home valuations in Snohomish County for clients ranging from national mortgage companies to local lenders or individual businesses and consumers. How do we save time and maintain reasonable prices without sacrificing quality? Our reply is simple: Technology. We also recognize that no matter where you go, service is the main reason a client comes, goes, repeats or gives your number to their friends.

read moreBy law, an appraiser needs to be state-licensed to offer appraisals for federally-backed sales. The law entitles you to get a copy of your finished appraisal report from your lending agency after it has been produced. Contact Kent & Associates Appraisal if you have any concerns about the appraisal process. Fact: It could be that Washington, like most states, supports the idea that the assessed value equates to the market value; however, this certainly varies based on state-to-state. Examples include when interior reconstruction has occurred and the assessor is unaware of the improvements, or when homes in the vicinity have not been reassessed for an prolonged period of time.