Lee Ginsburg

Are They Comparing Apples to Apples
August 21, 2009 · · 8 Comments

When you and I purchase a new computer we compare the memory, the speed, the screen size: does it come with a camera, DVD player/recorder and more.  A home the largest purchase most of us will ever make often is not reviewed with such detail by the people doing the lending and sometimes by the people doing the spending.  Yes, they look at the square footage, the general condition, and the location.  Appraisers often do not have any idea of the cost of section one termite repairs.  The differential in repair costs could be 3%, 5% even 10% of the purchase price.  Roofs costs could range between $5000 to $25,000.  A home with a two year old roof should be valued higher than one with a 25 year old roof.  Appraisers know roughly how old the roof is on the subject property but they don’t know the age of the comparables.  Same with double paned windows and furnaces.  A home with copper piping through out or or with upgraded electric needs to have additional value added to it.  All this information does not show up in the MLS.  Read more

Nicole Machado

Appraisers… what’s their real job description?
October 9, 2008 · · 5 Comments

AppraiserSince when did appraisers become home inspectors? Just curious as I encountered a never before sitaution today… As my property inspector was packing up from a routine property inspection, the appraiser drove up (early I may add) to what I thought at the time was to appraise the property. Read more