Chicago Residential Appraisal

Chicago Residential Appraisal

If you are buying a house, are selling a house, or are perhaps doing both, it’s not only an important financial decision, but it can also directly affect your family (if you’ll be living in the home you purchase). Many people in the home-buying market have very little experience with purchases of this magnitude, which makes obtaining a reliable, accurate appraisal that much more important. If you are venturing into the residential market, Allstate has more than six decades of proven experience in the appraisal arena and is standing by to help.

Residential Properties

When it comes to residential properties, they come in a wide range of forms to suit a multitude of needs. Consider all of the following:

• Single-family dwellings of every type
• Multi-family dwellings
• Townhomes 
• Condos
• Manufactured and modular homes
• Cabins and cottages
• Vacant land (to build a home upon)

The Residential Property You Are Considering

Regardless of the kind of purchase or sale you are considering, there are some important external and internal components of the property in question that need to be carefully assessed during the appraisal process. As far as external factors go, all of the following can play an important role:

• The type of neighborhood in which the dwelling is located (is it in an urban, suburban, or rural setting, for instance)
• The percentage of the neighborhood that is currently occupied – or that is otherwise in use
• The property’s zoning classification
• The lot size of the property
• The surface of the driveway and whether there is car storage or not
• Whether the property has public utilities or not (if you are purchasing to build)

When it comes to internal factors, the following can all significantly affect your appraisal:

• The square footage of the dwelling
• The dwelling’s total number of bedrooms and baths
• Whether the kitchen and baths are remodeled, modern, or updated and their overall condition
• The dwelling’s foundation type
• The floors, windows, and walls’ fabrications
• Whether the basement is partial or full and is finished or not – and its overall condition

A thorough appraisal considers all the unique qualities of the individual home and takes a holistic – rather than a cookie-cutter – approach. 

The Home, Generally

In the appraisal process, the overall condition of the structure and its fixtures and fittings is critical and incorporates all of the following:

• The materials that comprise the home’s foundation, roof, exterior walls, windows and screens, and gutters and downspouts (and the condition that they’re all in)
• The materials that comprise the home’s walls, floors, and trim (and the condition that they’re all in)
• Anything that could adversely affect the home’s structural integrity or livability factor
• The quality and consistency of the overall upkeep and maintenance of the home

Need a Chicago Residential Appraisal? Contact Allstate Today

If you’re in the market for a residential appraisal, the Chicago appraisal professionals at Allstate Appraisal proudly serve the entire nation, and we have six successful decades in the business to back us up. To learn more, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.