Are drive by appraisals lower?

Category: business and finance real estate industry
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As with just about anything that's done in a less-than-thorough manner, drive-by appraisals are motivated by a desire to save money. They take less time to do, so the charge to the buyer – and it's the buyer who pays for the appraisal – is lower. Drive-by appraisals carry obvious risks.



In respect to this, are drive by appraisals accurate?

The obvious reason for this is the appraiser doesn't have an accurate view of the home and its characteristics. "There are few benefits to a drive-by valuation compared to a full one." Although appraisers have data available, that information may not be up-to-date or accurate.

Secondly, what happens when appraisal comes in lower than offer? Generally speaking, here's what your appraisal outcome means: Appraisal is greater than offer: If the home appraises for more than the agreed-upon sale price, you're in the clear. Appraisal is lower than the offer: If the home appraises for less than the agreed-upon sale price, the lender won't approve the loan.

One may also ask, do appraisers just drive by?

Drive-By Appraisal Usage Appraisers doing drive-by appraisals photograph the site and make notes about the property's condition, generally based from a view from the street. These appraisers also base the property value on data such as recent real estate sales and listings near the site.

Do VA appraisals come in lower than conventional?

VA appraisers tend to have more experience than their peers. There is no evidence to indicate that VA appraisals are likely to be lower than conventional reports. In the case of an estimate of value lower than the sales price, the seller can request a “Reconsideration of Value” from the appraiser's company.

31 Related Question Answers Found

Does a clean house help an appraisal?

Impact of Clutter
Unless the amount of clutter begins to affect the structural condition of a home, it will not affect an appraisal. The cleanliness of a home also has no impact on the value. It is not uncommon for an appraiser to walk into a cluttered, messy home.

What does an appraiser look at?

Specifically, with regard to the exterior of a property, an appraiser looks at the site, the quality of construction, the integrity of the roof and foundation, any issues with the guttering or siding, parking facilities and the home's observable external condition.

Does a house appraiser come inside?

An appraiser visits your home for between 30 and 45 minutes to measure its dimensions, examine its amenities, and evaluate its overall condition, both inside and out, taking photos of the exterior, the garage, and every interior room.

How long does a drive by appraisal take?

You can expect an appraiser to be at your home from 20 minutes to two hours, depending on the size and complexity of the property, and they must take photos of all living areas to document and confirm the condition of the home.

How should I prepare for a home appraisal?


10 Easy Ways to Prepare Your Home for Appraisal
  1. Be sure to have any safety equipment installed and working properly.
  2. Walk around your home before the appraisal with a critical eye.
  3. Inform your home appraiser of any home improvements you have done on your home.
  4. Do some sprucing up.
  5. Do some research on other homes in the neighborhood.
  6. Clean your heart out.

What is a 2055 appraisal?

Form 2055 is a Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) compliant appraisal report that is based on an exterior-only inspection of a single family detached, attached, planned unit development (PUD) property. The report is to include: A supported opinion of site value.

What is a desktop appraisal?

The desktop appraisal is a valuation performed without a physical inspection of the property. All research is done as the name suggests, from the appraiser's desk. A desktop appraisal is made based on tax records and a multiple listing service (MLS).

What is a drive by House valuation?

A Kerbside Valuation is a cheap 'drive-past' valuation by an agent of a mortgage lender to check the condition and value of a property, used particularly for further advances on an existing mortgage or if you are remortgaging and house prices have not fluctuated drastically. These are referred to as Desktop Valuations.

What is an exterior only appraisal?

An Exterior-Only Inspection Residential Appraisal Report allows an appraiser to document observations based off of the following actions: An exterior inspection of the subject property. A street map that shows the location of the subject property and of all comparables used.

What if a house doesn't appraise for the asking price?


If your home doesn't appraise for the selling price, you and the buyer will both have to make some decisions. Those decisions could result in the deal moving forward, or falling off the tracks. The buyer could pay the difference out of pocket, which doesn't happen very often.

Do appraisals usually come in at asking price?

Seems like every time there is a purchase transaction needing an appraisal, you come in just above the purchase price. If the house is selling for $200,000, you come in at $202,000. If it is selling for $450,000, you come in at $460,000.

Can seller back out if appraisal is high?

A home that appraises for higher than the purchase price is a benefit to buyers as it means instant equity. Its impact on sellers is subject to how motivated they are. Still, offering something for sale only to find out that it's worth much more may be enough to make a seller reconsider.

How often do appraisals come in low?

How often do home appraisals come in low? Low home appraisals do not occur often. Fannie Mae says that appraisals come in low less than 8 percent of the time and many of these low appraisals are renegotiated higher after an appeal, Graham says.

Can you back out after appraisal?

If there's no appraisal contingency, then you're in trouble. Without the protective wording, you can't legally back out of the contract and you must complete the sale. The seller knows you can't cancel the contract and he can sue you if you refuse to close the deal.

Is a low appraisal good for buyer?


Fortunately, a low value doesn't have to be a deal breaker. Whether you are the buyer or the seller, you should understand how the appraisal process works. Knowing your options, and working with a good lender and a good agent can be the key to overcoming a low appraised value.

When a house appraises for less than the offer?

2? A low appraisal doesn't mean the lender won't lend. It just means that it will make a loan based on the ratio agreed to in the contract at the appraised value. Sometimes the buyer's lender won't allow the buyer to give cash for the difference.

Can a house sell for more than appraisal?

Can I Sell Home for More than Appraisal? A: The County appraised value is not the market value of the property. In most cases the county value will be around 20 percent below market value. You can have your property appraised for around $400 (appraisal costs varies from state to state).