THE SHORT VERSION
A residential home appraisal is an independent, USPAP-compliant opinion of what a home is worth, prepared by a state certified appraiser rather than a computer model.
Definition
Property Types
in established neighbourhoods, from starter houses to long-held family homes.
where the unit, the complex, the association, and the governing documents all enter the analysis.
on owned land, including homes many appraisers decline to take.
where the land, outbuildings, wells, and septic systems each carry value of their own.
Purposes
Homeowners order appraisals when a decision depends on knowing what the property is truly worth. The purpose of the assignment shapes how the appraisal is developed, so each situation below has its own page with the detail that applies to it.
An independent value before the list price is chosen, with no commission interest attached.
A value fixed to the date of passing, prepared for the professionals who file with it.
An independent, disinterested valuation for the estate’s record under Oregon law.
One impartial number both parties and their attorneys can work from.
Land, outbuildings, and site improvements analysed by market contribution.
Independent values supporting trust administration, distributions, and sales.
Documented current value supporting a request to drop private mortgage insurance.
Not sure which one fits your situation? One short conversation sorts it out, and there is no cost to asking.
The Appraiser
A certified appraiser is accountable to a public standard, and that accountability is what makes the value usable. State certification requires documented education, supervised experience, and examination, and it carries an ongoing obligation to remain independent and impartial on every assignment.
From A recent assignment involved
The same standard on every assignment
INDEPENDENT VALUE
Who It Serves
who need an independent value before selling, refinancing, planning, or settling a family matter.
who want a third-party value behind a difficult pricing conversation or an unusual property.
who need a value that holds up when it is examined on a record.
who require an independent opinion of value to support a decision.
Appraisal type review
How It Works
Call 503-757-7100 or send a request with the property details and the reason you need the value. The purpose shapes the assignment, so it is worth a minute of conversation.
The Fee
One brief conversation settles the scope and produces an accurate quote.
Coverage
FAQ
No, but someone needs to provide access to the interior, the exterior, and any outbuildings. Many owners are present and use the opportunity to point out improvements that might not be obvious. Others arrange access and leave it to the appraiser.
No cleaning, staging, or repairs are required. The home is valued in its actual condition, and normal household clutter has no effect on the opinion of value. What helps is access to every room and any documentation of improvements, permits, or recent work
Yes. The living area is measured directly rather than taken from public records, which are frequently wrong. That measurement is one of the most common reasons an appraised size differs from what a tax record or listing shows.
An appraisal develops an opinion of value. A home inspection evaluates the condition of systems and components for a buyer’s benefit. The appraiser notes condition as it affects value but does not test the furnace, the wiring, or the roof. The two reports serve different purposes and are not substitutes.
Often not, and that is expected. Assessed value is a mass-appraisal figure produced for taxation, updated on a schedule, and calculated without anyone entering the home. An appraisal reflects what the market supports for that specific property on a specific date, based on verified sales.
You can order one directly. Appraisals ordered by a homeowner for their own decisions, such as pricing a sale, settling an estate, or supporting a PMI removal request, are a normal part of this practice. Appraisals used for a mortgage loan are ordered through the lender’s own process.
Yes. Condominium and townhome assignments consider the unit itself along with the complex, the association, and the governing documents, since all of those affect what a buyer will pay.
Yes. Manufactured homes on owned land are a regular part of the practice, including homes on acreage. These assignments often need broader research, because comparable sales have to reflect both the home and the land component.
As recent as the market allows. In an active neighbourhood, sales from the past few months are usually available. In rural areas or for unusual properties, the search widens across a longer period and a larger area, and the report explains the reasoning behind every adjustment made.
It is analysed rather than ignored. Unpermitted additions and finished spaces are common, and the question is how the market responds to them in that location. The report states what was observed and how it was treated in the analysis.
Every report names its client, its intended users, and its intended use, and it is reliable for the purpose it was prepared for. If more than one purpose is in play, say so at the start, because that shapes how the assignment is set up and can save ordering a second report later.
Yes. New construction and recently completed homes are appraised in the same way, using sales of comparable newer properties, with the plans and specifications considered where the work is not yet finished.
Across the Portland Metro, the Willamette Valley from Salem through Eugene-Springfield, the Oregon Coast, the Columbia River Gorge, and Southwest Washington. Assignments beyond that area are accepted when the property and the required expertise are a good fit, so it is always worth asking.
