There are lots of reasons people call on Janet Fairbank

To many, an appraisal just looks like a line item on the break-sheet for a mortgage or refinance. Most lenders still call for a local expert because the stakes are so high, even though there are a developing number of automated home valuation systems that might appear more economical than an appraisal. But is getting a mortgage the only basis for getting an appraisal? Are there other situations when the services of a certified, independent real estate professional might be beneficial? You bet there are.


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Let Janet Fairbank help you dispute your tax assessment in Howard County

It's possible you're paying too much in property taxes if you live in an area where property values have declined. Property taxes are determined by a previous assessment of your home, so if values have gone down in your neighborhood, you can challenge your assessment and save money. An appraisal from Janet Fairbank is your best evidence when building your case. We're capable of assisting you in disputing your tax assessment.

Janet Fairbank can help you do away with PMI to lower your mortgage payment

When the amount being loaned to the buyer is more than 80% of the actual value of the home, many lenders ask homebuyers to buy an additional insurance plan. That policy is Private Mortgage Insurance, or PMI. Since the added payment is usually folded into the monthly mortgage payment, it is often forgotten. This is unfortunate because PMI is unnecessary when the remainder of the loan - whether through market appreciation or principal pay down - goes below the 80% mark. In fact, the United States Congress invoked a law in 1998 (the Homeowners Protection Act of 1998) that requires lenders to do away with the PMI installments when the loan-to-value ratio conditions have been met.

Janet Fairbank will give you a statement regarding the value of your home, and the cost of the appraisal can often be recovered in a short amount of time because you'll no longer be paying the PMI.

Divorce settlement with less stress

A divorce is an especially heartbreaking ordeal for the parties involved, and it is often further complicated by the hard decision of who gets the home. It's a good idea to get an appraisal from Janet Fairbank so both parties are entirely aware of the true market value of their house, regardless of the situation.

The parties will have a better idea of what price to set, if they want to sell the home. And if a "buyout" is the chosen option, both parties will feel like they've gotten a fair assessment.

Fair and accurate estate liquidation

The loss of a loved one is a painful time in life, and settling an estate from a death, or probate, often entails an appraisal to establish Market Value for the residential property involved. We ensure the highest degree of discretion, as we're bound with confidentiality by the ethics provision within the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).

Unlike wealthy individuals, most Americans do not have dedicated estate planners or executors to handle these affairs. A home or other property often makes up an uneven share of the total estate value, so understanding the true value of the real estate at hand is of vital importance to ensuring disputing parties leave knowing they've received a fair deal.

Let Janet Fairbank assist you in relocating to or from Howard County

We know the headaches involved with an employee relocation. That being said, we take great care in setting up a convenient appointment time for the appraisal inspection. We encourage relocating employees to provide input on the positive attributes of their property, along with information about any new sales or listings in their neighborhood that they want considered during our thorough process.

Don't sell out short or let your home stay on the market too long.

A professional appraisal can help you make a better educated decision when determining your asking price, whether you choose to sell your home on your own or with the help of a real estate agent. An appraiser has no vested interest in what price the house sells for, which is different than the interest of real estate agents. The price we charge isn't contingent upon the value we come up with, but rather they are based on our efforts to complete the appraisal.

On a daily basis, we examine the difference in value things like an additional bathroom or a kitchen remodel can make. Seeking a professional appraisal is a reliable way to determine what improvements will add value and what an appropriate sales price is for your home - so you don't come up short or have your house on the market an unnecessarily long time - because we're experts in knowing how long properties are one the market.