1. Refinancing: Knowing the value of your home can help you determine if refinancing is a good option for you, as it can affect the terms of your loan and your monthly mortgage payments.

2. Selling: Knowing the value of your home can help you price it correctly when it comes time to sell. It's important to have an accurate understanding of your home's value to make sure you're not pricing it too high or too low.

3. Equity: The value of your home is an important factor in determining your equity, which is the difference between what you owe on your mortgage and the value of your home. Knowing your home's value can help you determine how much equity you have and how you can use it.

4. Tax assessment: The value of your home is used to determine your property taxes. Knowing your home's value can help you understand how it affects your tax bill and whether you might be able to contest your assessment if you think it's too high.

5. Planning for the future: Knowing your home's value can help you plan for the future, whether you're thinking about retirement, making a major purchase, or leaving an inheritance. Understanding your home's value can help you make more informed decisions about your finances and your future.

By subscribing to our service, homeowners can stay updated with the real estate market and how it affects their most valuable asset, their home. With accurate, up-to-date information, homeowners can make more informed decisions about their property, giving them peace of mind and the ability to take control of their financial future.

1. Independence: Appraisers are independent third-party professionals who provide unbiased and objective assessments of a property's value. Realtors, on the other hand, are salespeople who may have a vested interest in providing a higher valuation of a property in order to make a sale.

2. Credentials: Appraisers are typically required to have specialized education, training, and experience in valuing properties. They are licensed and have the expertise to provide a detailed report on your property's characteristics, conditions, and comparable sales. For example: a certified residential appraiser must have a four-year degree and undergo a two-year apprenticeship, while a realtor only needs to take a 60 hour class.

3. Objectivity: Appraisers conduct a thorough inspection of the property and compare it to other similar properties that have recently sold in the area. This process is known as the "comparable sales approach," which ensures that the value is based on factual data. This approach is much more objective than an estimate based on opinion.

4. Accuracy: Appraisers use industry-standard methodologies and professional standards to value properties, which helps to ensure that the values they provide are accurate and reliable.

5. Legal requirement: Appraisals are often required by lenders when a property is being refinanced, purchased, or sold. The purpose of the appraisal is to protect the lender from lending more than what the property is worth.

It's important to note that a realtor can provide you with an estimated value for a property, which is commonly called a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis). This analysis is based on their experience and knowledge of the local market, but it is not an appraisal. It is an estimation, which is not legally binding. A professional appraiser will provide you with a formal report with the value, which is considered legally binding and significantly more accurate.

1. Stay informed: The real estate market is constantly changing, and home values can fluctuate over time. By subscribing to our service, homeowners can stay informed about the value of their property and how it is affected by changes in the market.

2. Make informed decisions: Knowing the value of your home can help you make informed decisions about refinancing, selling, or making home improvements. By subscribing to our service, homeowners will have access to up-to-date information about their property's value and how it can affect their financial future.

3. Spot trends: By receiving an appraisal every 6 months, homeowners can spot trends in the value of their property and adjust accordingly. This is beneficial for homeowners who are looking to make a sale or refinance their mortgage.

4. Comparison: By having multiple appraisals over time, homeowners can compare the values and see how the market has fluctuated. This will give them a good understanding of the market's trend so that they may adjust their plans accordingly.

5. Convenience: Instead of having to schedule an appraisal every time they need one, homeowners can simply rely on our service to keep them informed of their home's value on a regular basis. This will save them time and effort in the long run.

6. Cost-effective: Appraisals can be costly and our subscription service will spread the cost over time, making it more affordable for homeowners.

By subscribing to our service, homeowners can feel more content, knowing that they have access to accurate and up-to-date information about the value of their property, which will help them make informed decisions and plan for the future.

1. Refinancing: Knowing the accurate value of your home can help you determine if refinancing is a good option for you. If the value of your home has increased, you may be able to refinance your mortgage at a lower interest rate, which can save you thousands of dollars over the life of your loan.

2. Selling: Knowing the accurate value of your home can help you price it correctly when the time comes to sell. If your home is overpriced, it may sit on the market for a long time, which will cost you money in lost income and added expenses, such as mortgage payments and property taxes. On the other hand, if your home is underpriced, you may lose out on potential profits from the sale.

3. Home Improvements: Knowing the value of your home can help you determine which improvements will be the most cost-effective. Investing in home improvements that increase your home's value can help you recoup a higher percentage of your investment when you sell your home.

4. Tax assessment: Knowing the accurate value of your home can help you contest your property tax assessment if you believe it is too high. Property taxes are based on your home's value, so if the assessed value is higher than your home's actual value, your property taxes will be higher than they should be.

5. Avoiding legal disputes: A professional appraisal report can be used as evidence in legal disputes and can help homeowners settle disputes with lenders, buyers, and tax assessors. This can help avoid costly legal proceedings and ensure that you get a fair outcome.

6. Negotiating: Knowing the accurate value of your home can help you negotiate a better price if you are selling your home or refinancing your mortgage. With a professionally appraised value, you will have leverage to get the best deal.

By obtaining an appraisal, homeowners will have a clear understanding of the value of their home, which will help them make informed decisions, plan for the future, and potentially save them money in the long run.

The process is outlined on the Programs page. After signing up, your appraiser will reach out by email if additional information is needed besides your home address to complete your appraisal. If you are signing up for the Spark Appraisal program, everything can be done personally from the comfort of your own home. If you are in need of a full appraisal report, you can upgrade at anytime. After signing up, you will have access to our members page where a much more detailed step-by-step guide is outlined.

Our Coverage Area is currently all of Virginia, Maryland, and DC. We are working to add WV in the near future and nationwide by 2024.

Main Virginia counties include: Fairfax, Fairfax City, Prince William, Loudoun, Manassas City, Manassas Park City, Fauquier, Falls Church, Arlington, Alexandria, and Stafford.

Main Maryland counties include: Frederick, Prince George, Montgomery, Charles, Howard, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, and Baltimore City