Attention homeowners in Southeast Florida & Metro Atlanta: Get an Appraisal today!

7 Reasons Florida Homeowners Choose a Professional Residential Appraisal

A professional appraisal can be useful for much more than obtaining a mortgage. Homeowners may need an independent opinion of market value when making an important financial, legal, or real estate decision.

At DiCicco & Associates, we provide independent residential appraisal services throughout Southeast Florida for a variety of purposes. Here are seven common reasons homeowners and other property owners contact us.

1. Determine Your Home's Value Before Selling

Whether you are working with a real estate agent or selling your property For Sale By Owner (FSBO), knowing your home's current market value can provide valuable information when establishing an asking price.

A pre-listing appraisal considers recent comparable sales, current competition, property characteristics, condition, location, improvements, and other relevant market factors.

2. Support a Property Tax Assessment Appeal

If you believe your property's assessed or market value does not accurately reflect its market value, an independent appraisal may provide useful documentation for a property tax appeal.

DiCicco & Associates can analyze relevant comparable sales and market conditions and provide an independent opinion of value for the intended purpose of the assignment.

3. Document Value for PMI Removal

If your home's market value has increased since you purchased it, you may wish to determine whether you qualify to request removal of Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI).

A professional appraisal can provide an independent opinion of your property's current market value for consideration by your mortgage lender or loan servicer. Because PMI requirements vary by loan, homeowners should confirm the applicable requirements directly with their lender or servicer.

4. Support a HELOC or Home Equity Review

Homeowners may need an updated opinion of market value when applying for or reviewing a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) or other home-equity financing.

An appraisal provides an independent valuation of the property that may be used by a lender as part of its underwriting or credit decision. Lender requirements vary, so confirm with your financial institution whether a full appraisal is required.

5. Obtain an Independent Review of an Existing Appraisal

Have questions about an appraisal that was recently completed on your property?

Depending on the circumstances and intended use, an independent appraisal or appraisal review may help identify differences in comparable-sales selection, property characteristics, market analysis, or other aspects of the valuation.

An appraisal review is a distinct professional service from simply ordering another appraisal, and the appropriate assignment depends on the specific circumstances.

6. Determine Real Estate Value for a Divorce

Real estate is often one of the largest assets involved in a divorce or marital property settlement. Establishing an independent opinion of market value can provide useful information when property is being divided, one spouse is buying out the other's interest, or the parties are negotiating a settlement.

DiCicco & Associates provides divorce appraisals and retrospective valuations for attorneys, accountants, mediators, and private clients. When a historical effective date is required, we can research the market conditions and comparable sales applicable to that date.

7. Establish the Value of Real Estate for an Estate

When real estate is part of an estate, an independent appraisal may be needed for estate settlement, probate, inherited property, tax reporting, distribution of assets, or other estate-related purposes.

A date-of-death or retrospective appraisal can establish an opinion of the property's market value as of a specified historical date, such as the date of the property owner's death.

DiCicco & Associates works with attorneys, accountants, executors, trustees, and beneficiaries to provide professional residential estate and probate appraisal services.

Need an Independent Opinion of Your Home's Value?

Whether you are selling a home, appealing a tax assessment, reviewing your mortgage options, settling an estate, or addressing a divorce-related property matter, an independent appraisal can provide valuable market information for your specific situation.

DiCicco & Associates provides professional residential appraisal services throughout Southeast Florida and Metro Atlanta, backed by more than 25 years of residential appraisal experience.

Contact DiCicco & Associates today to discuss your appraisal needs and determine which valuation service is appropriate for your situation.

Independent Analysis. Well-Supported Valuation. Professional Service.

At Di Cicco & Associates, we understand the unique needs of a customer seeking appraisal services. Our business practices and reporting formats are relatively routine to our business clients like lenders, attorneys, and CPAs. But as a consumer,you will receive extra guidance and explanations through the appraisal process to more fully understand what we do and how we document our conclusions.

Pre-listing Services/For Sale By Owner (FSBO)

Since you have an emotional attachment to your own house, it's often very hard to be objective about it. The professional appraisers at Di Cicco & Associates will tell you what you need to know -- not just what you want to hear. We are objective. A professional appraisal is very crucial as a negotiating tool once you have an interested buyer, in addition to helping you set a realistic selling price so your home will attract interested buyers. It gives you something concrete to show your buyer. It's an independent third party's opinion of your house's price, and not just how much your house is worth. Potential buyers assume that you have an emotional attachment to your house and will be much more likely to give credibility to a qualified appraiser's value report than yours.

Challenging a property tax assessment

Your local tax assessor may have your house overvalued if you live in an area that is declining. That only means you are going to pay more taxes than you should. The quicker you take care of a matter like this, the better off you'll be, since your property assessment may likely go up again in the next period. Getting an appraisal from Di Cicco & Associates is your perfect weapon when challenging your property tax assessment.

Need Field and Desktop Appraisal Review Services?

Would you prefer a second opinion without the charge and delay of waiting for a whole new appraisal? Or do you need a veteran appraiser to double-check your appraisal for verity? In a field review we will go out and check the subject and comps. Or, if you're in a hurry, we can provide you with a desk review and verify as many facts as we can using online data sources as well as our own files.

Need a retrospective review of an appraisal? We can We can assist you Even though this is typically requested by banks, you may need to employ this service if you suspect mortgage fraud related to your home.