Graham Enterprises has answers to "Frequently Asked Questions"

Graham Enterprises is prepared to elaborate on any concerns you might have about appraisals or real estate in San Bernardino County. Feel free to contact us today.

Describe an appraisal
Describe what an appraiser does
What are the reasons I would require services from Graham Enterprises?
What is the difference between an appraisal and a home inspection?
What is the difference between an appraisal and a comparative market analysis (CMA)?
What's in an appraisal report?
Upon completion of the appraisal, how can I have certainty that the value indicated is legitimate?
What does it mean for an appraiser to be licensed?
Who employs appraisers?
Where does an appraiser get the data used to estimate values in San Bernardino County or other areas?
Why do I need a professional appraisal?
My mortgage statement has an item on it for PMI? Can I get rid of that?
How do I get ready for the appraiser?
Define "Market Value"
Who actually owns the appraisal report?
How can I get the most ROI out of home improvements?



Describe an appraisal   (Back to top)

An appraisal is an investigation that concludes with an opinion of value. This opinion or estimate is discerned through the use of a formal method that generally utilizes three "common approaches to value". One of them is the Cost Approach - which is how much it would cost to replace the improvements, minus physical deterioration and other factors, then adding the land value. The Sales Comparison Approach deals with finding comparable homes in close proximity and figuring out the value based on comparing those homes to the house being appraised. Being the most popular approach, the Sales Comparison Approach tends to be the most accurate and best indicator of market value for a residence. The Income Approach is primarily used for figuring out the market value of income-producing properties based on what an investor would pay based on the amount of income a property produce.

Describe what an appraiser does   (Back to top)

An appraiser offers an unprejudiced and well supported opinion of market value, in the support of real property exchanges. Appraisers document their expert conclusions in appraisal reports.


What are the reasons I would require services from Graham Enterprises?   (Back to top)

There are a lot of reasons to purchase an appraisal with the most common reason being real estate and mortgage transactions. A few other reasons for ordering an appraisal report include:
  • To receive a loan.
  • If you would like to lower your property tax burden.
  • To demonstrate a homeowner's acquired equity and remove insurance.
  • To challenge high property taxes.
  • To handle an estate.
  • To offer you a leg-up when purchasing real estate.
  • To determine an honest price when selling real estate.
  • To protect your rights if your property is being taken by means of eminent domain in a condemnation case.
  • Because a government agency such as the IRS requires it.
  • It's possible you could be involved in a lawsuit - an appraisal will definitely help.
If you need more information regarding the appraisal process, please click here.


What is the difference between an appraisal and a home inspection?   (Back to top)

The appraiser is not a home inspector and does not do a full home inspection. A third-party home inspector will evaluate the structure of the home, from the roof to the bottom. The usual property inspector's report will contain an evaluation of the integrity of the house's heating systems, central air conditioning system (temperature permitting), interior plumbing and electrical systems, the roof, attic, and visible insulation, walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors, the foundation, basement, and visible structure.

What is the difference between an appraisal and a comparative market analysis (CMA)?   (Back to top)

Honestly, they have nothing in common. The CMA depends on vague trends in the market. An appraisal relies on comparable sales that can be verified by records. Also, the appraisal looks at other factors like condition, area and building costs. All a CMA does is generate a "ball park figure." Delivering a defensible and careful analysis, an appraisal will give a clear opinion of value.

But the largest differentiator is who's doing the report. Real estate agents produce CMA's, and they don't always know the whole market or bear specific competence when it comes to home valuation. The appraisal is produce by a licensed, certified professional who has made a career out of valuing properties. Further, the appraiser is an unbiased party, with no vested interest in the value of a home, unlike the real estate agent, who gets a commission based upon the value of the home.

What's in an appraisal report?   (Back to top)

Each report must indicate a credible estimate of value and will identify the following:
  • Who engaged the appraiser and whose purposes the appraisal is to serve.
  • The intended use of the report.
  • The reason for the assignment.
  • Precisely what "value" attribute is being reported and what that value means.
  • The effective date of the appraisal.
  • Pertinent property characteristics, including: location, physical characteristics, legal attributes, economic factors, the property rights valued, and non-real estate items included in the valuation, such as personal property, permanent equipment installations and even intangible items.
  • Any 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.
  • The scope of work used while working up the job.
For a more comprehensive view of the work that goes into an appraisal report click here: Sample Appraisal Report

Upon completion of the appraisal, how can I have certainty that the value indicated is legitimate?   (Back to top)

In communicating an appraisal report, each appraiser must ensure the following:
  • The appraisal used a suitable analysis of the information.

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

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

  • That a trustworthy, defensible appraisal report was communicated.
There are rigorous education and experience requirements that must be fulfilled in order to get an appraisal license in California. In addition, appraisers must stick to a meticulous industry code of ethics and observe national standards of practice for real estate appraisal. The tenets for working up an appraisal and reporting its results are guaranteed by enforcement of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).


    (Back to top) Licensing and certification takes coursework, tests and real world experience. Once an appraiser is licensed, he or 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 employs appraisers?   (Back to top)

Mortgage lenders are an appraiser's most likely customer, needing their services to ensure real estate involved in a mortgage transaction is adequate collateral for a loan. Appraisers also provide opinions in litigation cases, tax matters and investment decisions.

Where does an appraiser get the data used to estimate values in San Bernardino County or other areas?   (Back to top)

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

General data is collected from a numerous places. To find out about recently sold homes to be used as "comps", an appraiser will typically use the local Multiple Listing Service. To verify actual sales prices, we research items in the assessor's office and other public documents that are usually online nowadays. Appraisers routinely need to report when a property is in a flood zone, and that information is retrieved from a FEMA data outlet such as a la mode's InterFlood product.

And most importantly, the appraiser assimilates general data from his or her collective knowledge gained from creating appraisals for other properties in the same market.

Why do I need a professional appraisal?   (Back to top)

An appraisal is a valuable tool anytime the value of your home is relevant to some financial decision. For those selling a home, you'll want to figure out a price that gets you the most profit but doesn't leave your home on the market too long; an appraisal can help with that. When buying, you can avoid overpaying by getting an independent appraisal. For those settling an estate or divorce, an appraisal from Graham Enterprises is the best documentation to ensure assets are divided evenly. 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?   (Back to top)

PMI is short for for Private Mortgage Insurance. This supplementary policy protects the lender if a borrower doesn't pay on the loan and the value of the home is less than the loan balance. 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.

The savings from getting rid of your PMI will make up for the cost of the appraisal in no time. Nobody is more qualified than Graham Enterprises when it comes to analyzing real estate appreciation in Colton and San Bernardino County. Contact us today.

How do I get ready for the appraiser?   (Back to 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. Is there anything you can do to help? Yes there is! First, be 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 the appraiser can get to appliances like furnaces and water heaters.

You can make the inspection go faster and improve the quality of the appraisal report by having the following things on hand:
  • Written property agreements, such as a maintenance agreement for a shared driveway.
  • Title policy that lists encroachments or easements.
  • Home inspection reports, or other recent reports for termites, EIFS (synthetic stucco) wall systems, septic systems and your well.
  • A copy of the current listing agreement and broker's data sheet and Purchase Agreement if a sale is "pending".
  • A bill for your most recent real estate taxes which should also contain a legal description of the property.

Define "Market Value"   (Back 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 actually owns the appraisal report?   (Back to 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 included with all the other closing documents - but is not allowed to use the report for any other purpose without permission from the lender.

The exception to this rule is when a home owner engages an appraiser directly. In these scenarios, the appraiser may define how the appraisal can be used; for PMI removal, or estate planning or tax challenges, for example. If not noted otherwise, the home owner can use the appraisal for any purpose.

How can I get the most ROI out of home improvements?   (Back to top)

A home's location - what city it is in and even what part of that city - is key to this popular question. For example, installing an inline humidifier could be nice in arid regions, but completely useless near the coast!

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 were second, returning 85%. Adding bedrooms and baths can also increase the value of your home as long as your home doesn't then become atypical for your neighborhood in terms of size.