What to Do When Receiving a Low Appraisal on Your Home
When a Houston property
appraiser evaluates a home lower than the buyer is anticipating, it can throw the
process of the sale or refinance into chaos. There are some options a buyer has
to try to mitigate the damage that can be done when there is a difference
between the selling price and the value assessed by a professional appraiser.
5 Tips on How to Handle a Low
Appraisal Value
1. Check for Mistakes
Everyone
makes mistakes, even the best appraisers in the business. If things seem off
and the numbers do not seem to add up, the first step is to comb over the
appraiser’s report to see if any mistakes were made. Sellers will need to
request a copy of the detailed report, which the lender is obligated to send
within 30 days of the request. If an appraiser missed some upgrades or
improvements inside or outside the home, it could lead to significant changes
in the final totals.
2. Challenge Appraisal
with ‘Reconsiderations of Value’
If
there are no glaring mistakes, and the appraisal is considerably lower than
expected, the valuation can be appealed through the state appeal board or through
a process known as Reconsideration of Value. Some common grounds for such an
appeal include:
● Poor use of local real estate
property comparisons
● Not taking into account
concessions or special financing considerations
● Miscalculating living area
totals
3. Request New Appraisal
The
lender may approve a second appraisal from a more qualified appraiser if they
can be shown issues with the initial appraisal. The buyer would generally be
responsible for the cost of an additional appraisal.
4. Negotiate with the
Buyer
It
is up to the homeowner to drop the price to the lowered appraisal valuation or
to insist on their initial asking price. They can try to work with the seller
to come up with a compromise, like making a larger down payment or covering the
cost of private mortgage insurance payments. The success depends on the
willingness of each party to compromise and negotiate.
5. Put Home Back on the
Market
When
all else fails, the seller is under no obligation to continue the negotiation
or sales process, and the house can be put back on the market. A good real
estate agent will be able to lay out the options at the moment, depending on
current local market trends to help make the best decision under the
circumstances.
Why Choose Reliable Valuation Service
Whether
you are buying, selling, or refinancing your home, Reliable Valuation Service
will provide an accurate, unbiased assessment and valuation in the form of a Houston tax appraisal of the property. Trusted
professionals perform the kind of home appraisal Houston relies on to help facilitate
home sales of all kinds.
Contact Reliable Valuation Service
Today
For
complete information on the wide range of home appraisal services from the most Houston appraisal
company, contact the experts at Reliable Valuation Service today to have all of
your questions answered and to book a Houston appraisal from the industry’s best.

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