Q: Do I really need an appraisal?  Won't a Broker's Price Opinion (BPO) give me what I need?

A: The difference between a BPO and an appraisal is HUGE. A broker is not required to be unbiased; a broker is not required to follow the Uniform Standards of Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and a broker is not skilled in the art and science of appraisals.

Q: Is it necessary to have geographic expertise?

A: USPAP requires geographic competency and when an appraiser lacks it, the appraiser must take the necessary steps to get it. I see out of the area appraisers enter markets where they have no experience often.  When the first rule of appraisal is location, location, location, then it is only obvious to hire THE MOST experienced appraiser in a location when it really matters. Northern Los Angeles County, defined as the Santa Clarita Valley, the Antelope Valley, and the Mojave Desert is a unique location with real estate markets that are different than the rest of Los Angeles County and most of southern California. Would you hire a criminal defense attorney to do your estate tax planning?

Q: Is it necessary to have property expertise? 

A: When it really matters, it ABSOLUTELY matters. Our firm has experience with data centers, many of which have been valued at several billion dollars (11 figures). This is a growing asset class that requires knowledge of AI infrastructure, and especially power. Our work has included Hyperscale tenants/operators such as Meta, Amazon, Facebook, Google, and Oracle, and many other smaller companies and government agencies.

Q: How are appraisal fees estimated?

A: The appraisal fee is estimated on a case by case basis.  Some of our litigation/forensic clients only want an oral report while other clients need a very detailed report on very complex properties.

Q: Who have you served?

A: Without naming names, some of our clients have been the wealthiest in the country with names you would recognize. We also work for several lenders across the United States and Canada, developers, municipalities, CPA's, and attorneys.   

Q: Who needs an appraisal?

A: Appraisals are needed every day for estate tax purposes, estate planning purposes, litigation, condemnation (eminent domain), lending, and financial reporting. Some buyers and sellers hire us to give them an idea of the value of a property before they list or before they make an offer. 

Q: I don't need a big 100 page appraisal and I don't want to pay for one? Can you give me an abbreviated appraisal?

A: In many instances, we can develop an abbreviated report that includes only the conclusions and doesn't include information you already know about the property (e.g., the property description, the neighborhood description, etc.).  The report format can be tailored to include more than the bare minimum including comparables and analysis, but it doesn't even need to include those items. Please call or email for a discussion of your needs.