Divorce
Click here for answers to common divorce appraisal questions.
Unfortunately, divorces due occur and spouses often have a legal need to divide their jointly-owned
property up in a fair manner. The only reasonable way to deal with jointly owned real estate is to first
determine its value. We can provide such an estimate. It's also important that you choose an appraiser
who has experience in court, if the need should arise. The appraiser who provides you with an appraisal
will need to be able to adequately defend that appraisal in court.
Time and time again, we have seen homeowners show up in court with a appraisal as their only
evidence for the value of their property. Many times their appraiser reluctantly shows up only after
having been subpoenaed. The appraisal is typically a rush-job and the appraiser is not prepared to
defend his or her work. We have seen homeowners lose tens of thousands of dollars in equity simply
because they hired the wrong appraiser who could not convince the judge or jury of the proper market
value of the subject property. Developing an appraisal to be used for litigation is a skill that the vast
majority of appraisers do not possess.
Some homeowners choose to use a real estate agent or broker for their market value. This is typically a
mistake. Real estate agents and brokers aren't required to follow any standards when developing the
typical broker's price opinion (or BPO). We have hundreds of pages of Standards that we have to
comply with. Not only that, but we are required by law to be unbiased. The typical real estate agent
trying to get a listing on your property has different motives. Furthermore, the typical agent or broker
has no comprehensive appraisal training other than a brief introduction as included as part of their
pre-licensure. There are many complex factors that may affect the value of your property that require
specialized training.
Testifying in court is not for the timid. Be sure that any professional you use to value your house has
court experience. You'll need someone who can also create any required exhibits and present a
professional appearance.
A litigation appraisal starts with a very thorough inspection (not home inspection) of your house that
may last 2-3 hours. We carefully record the important details that might be needed later. We take
dozens of interior photographs and videotape your entire house on the interior and exterior. This video
is later converted to DVD so that we can replay any appropriate sections of the DVD in court via our
laptop computer and LCD projector. This photographic evidence can be priceless if there are any
disagreements as to the factual details of the appraisal.
We measure your house using the latest electronic laser measuring tool called a Disto. Surprisingly,
many arguments in court revolve around the actual amount of living area in the subject property.
There are a lot of sloppy ways to measure a house and we're sure to do it according to the latest ANSI
guidelines. We also acquire lots of public data on your property from various governmental offices and
have all of this information available in an electronic format to be presented as needed in court.
For tough assignments, we have access to aerial photographs and complex surveying techniques. The
bottom line is that you will want an appraiser with the latest tools to appraiser your house properly.
There are some important factors that need to be considered upfront when you need an appraisal for
divorce purposes. Please call our office for a no-charge consultation before ordering an appraisal from
anywhere. We can provide you with some important information that you'll need to know before
starting this important process.
Click here for answers to common divorce appraisal questions.
Unfortunately, divorces due occur and spouses often have a legal need to divide their jointly-owned
property up in a fair manner. The only reasonable way to deal with jointly owned real estate is to first
determine its value. We can provide such an estimate. It's also important that you choose an appraiser
who has experience in court, if the need should arise. The appraiser who provides you with an appraisal
will need to be able to adequately defend that appraisal in court.
Time and time again, we have seen homeowners show up in court with a appraisal as their only
evidence for the value of their property. Many times their appraiser reluctantly shows up only after
having been subpoenaed. The appraisal is typically a rush-job and the appraiser is not prepared to
defend his or her work. We have seen homeowners lose tens of thousands of dollars in equity simply
because they hired the wrong appraiser who could not convince the judge or jury of the proper market
value of the subject property. Developing an appraisal to be used for litigation is a skill that the vast
majority of appraisers do not possess.
Some homeowners choose to use a real estate agent or broker for their market value. This is typically a
mistake. Real estate agents and brokers aren't required to follow any standards when developing the
typical broker's price opinion (or BPO). We have hundreds of pages of Standards that we have to
comply with. Not only that, but we are required by law to be unbiased. The typical real estate agent
trying to get a listing on your property has different motives. Furthermore, the typical agent or broker
has no comprehensive appraisal training other than a brief introduction as included as part of their
pre-licensure. There are many complex factors that may affect the value of your property that require
specialized training.
Testifying in court is not for the timid. Be sure that any professional you use to value your house has
court experience. You'll need someone who can also create any required exhibits and present a
professional appearance.
A litigation appraisal starts with a very thorough inspection (not home inspection) of your house that
may last 2-3 hours. We carefully record the important details that might be needed later. We take
dozens of interior photographs and videotape your entire house on the interior and exterior. This video
is later converted to DVD so that we can replay any appropriate sections of the DVD in court via our
laptop computer and LCD projector. This photographic evidence can be priceless if there are any
disagreements as to the factual details of the appraisal.
We measure your house using the latest electronic laser measuring tool called a Disto. Surprisingly,
many arguments in court revolve around the actual amount of living area in the subject property.
There are a lot of sloppy ways to measure a house and we're sure to do it according to the latest ANSI
guidelines. We also acquire lots of public data on your property from various governmental offices and
have all of this information available in an electronic format to be presented as needed in court.
For tough assignments, we have access to aerial photographs and complex surveying techniques. The
bottom line is that you will want an appraiser with the latest tools to appraiser your house properly.
There are some important factors that need to be considered upfront when you need an appraisal for
divorce purposes. Please call our office for a no-charge consultation before ordering an appraisal from
anywhere. We can provide you with some important information that you'll need to know before
starting this important process.
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2554 East Silver Lake Road N.
Traverse City, MI 49684
Tel: 231.590.4225
Fax: 866.858.5868
Email: appraisal@quickturntime.com
Traverse City, MI 49684
Tel: 231.590.4225
Fax: 866.858.5868
Email: appraisal@quickturntime.com
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