Let Aikin Appraisal Services, LLC take care of your appraisal

To a lot of people, an appraisal just looks like a line item on the settlement sheet for a home purchase or refinance. While there are a developing number of automated home valuation methods that might appear to be less expensive than an appraisal, nearly all lenders still call for a local expert because the stakes are very high. But is obtaining a mortgage the only reason to acquire an appraisal? Are there additional times when the services of a licensed, independent real estate professional could come in handy? Absolutely.

Contact Aikin Appraisal Services, LLC if you're planning on any transaction where the value of your home is a factor. Just click here

Challenge your tax assessment in Arlington County

If you live in an area where the value of property has declined, it's possible you're paying too much in property taxes. An appraisal from Aikin Appraisal Services, LLC is your best evidence when building your case. We're equipped to assist you in disputing your tax assessment.

How can you do away with PMI to lower your mortgage payment?

Private Mortgage Insurance, or PMI, is an additional insurance plan that many lenders ask homeowners to purchase when the amount being loaned to the home owner is more than 80% of the actual value of the home. Most often, this added payment is folded into the monthly mortgage payment and is soon forgotten. PMI becomes unnecessary when the remainder of the loan - whether through market appreciation or principal pay down - decreases below the 80% mark, making this very unfavorable. In fact, the Homeowners Protection Act (HPA) of 1998 was approved by the United States Congress that requires lenders to do away with the PMI installments when the balance is paid down to 78% of the original value.

Aikin Appraisal Services, LLC can give you a statement regarding the value of your home, and the price you paid for the appraisal can generally be regained in just a few months because you'll no longer be paying the PMI.

Settling a divorce with less stress

A divorce can be an especially daunting ordeal for both parties, and it is often more complicated by the hard decision of who maintains the home. So both parties are fully aware of the true market value of their house, it's a good idea to get an appraisal from Aikin Appraisal Services, LLC, regardless of the circumstances.

If the parties wish to sell the home, they'll have a a good idea of what price to set. And on the flip side, if a "buyout" is the chosen option, both parties will feel like they've received a fair evaluation.

Accurate and fair estate liquidation

Losing a loved one is a painful time in life, and settling an estate from a death, or probate, often requires an appraisal to establish Market Value for the residential property involved. We guarantee 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 many wealthy individuals, most Americans don't have dedicated estate planners or executors to take care of these issues. And since a home or other property often makes up a disproportionate share of the total estate value, knowing the correct value of the real estate at hand is of vital importance to ensuring disputing parties leave knowing they've gotten an honest deal.

Let Aikin Appraisal Services, LLC help you with relocating to or from Arlington County

Moving due to a job change can be a more than just an inconvenience, and we understand. We take great care in establishing an accommodating appointment time for the appraisal inspection. During our detailed process, we encourage relocating employees to provide feedback on the positive aspects of their property, along with information about any current sales or listings in their neighborhood that they want considered.

Don't sell out for too little or keep your home on the market too long.

Whether you want to sell your home on your own or use the assistance of a real estate agent, a professional appraisal will help you make a better educated decision when determining your selling price. An appraiser has no vested interest in what price the house sells for, which is different than the interest of real estate agents. Our fees depend on our efforts to complete the appraisal report and and aren't related to the sales price.

We determine the difference in value things like an extra bathroom or a kitchen remodel can make on a daily basis. Getting a professional appraisal is a trusted way to determine what improvements will add value and what an applicable 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.