An appraisal of real estate is the valuation of the rights of
ownership. The appraiser must define the rights he intends to
appraise. The appraiser does not create value, the appraiser
interprets the market to arrive at a value estimate. As the
appraiser compiles data pertinent to a report, consideration must be
given to the site and amenities as well as the physical condition of
the property. An appraiser may spend only a short time inspecting
the property, however, this is only the beginning.
Considerable research and collection of general and specific data
must be accomplished before the appraiser can arrive at a final
opinion of value.
Due to the many types of value, such as fair market value,
insurance value, tax value and value in use, the need to precisely
define the purpose of the appraisal is essential.
Home
Owners Insurance Information
When you insure your home, you should insure your
home for the total amount it would cost to rebuild your home if it
were destroyed. If you don't have sufficient insurance, your
insurance company may only pay a portion of the cost of replacing or
repairing damaged items.
There are three ways to insure the structure of your home:
- Replacement Cost: Insurance that pays the policyholder the
cost of replacing the damaged property without deduction for
depreciation, but limited to a maximum dollar amount.
- Guaranteed Replacement Cost: Insurance that pays the full cost
of replacing damaged property, without a deduction for
depreciation and without a dollar limit. This coverage is not
available in all states and some companies limit the coverage to
120 percent of the cost of rebuilding your home. This gives you
protection against such things as a sudden increase in
construction costs due to a shortage of building materials.
- Actual Cash Value: Insurance under which the policyholder
receives an amount equal to the replacement value of damaged
property minus an allowance for depreciation. Unless a homeowners
policy specifies that property is covered for its replacement
value, the coverage is for actual cash
value.