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Frequently Asked Questions
What are your coverage areas?
In general, we cover the Central Oregon area. This includes all of Crook County, Jefferson County, and Deschutes County.
Specific areas and cities include Bend, Redmond, Madras, Prineville, Sisters, Sunriver, LaPine, Tumalo, Terrebonne, Camp Sherman, Crooked River Ranch, Black Butte Ranch, Powell Butte, Culver, and Metolius.
Who does the appraiser work for?
In a mortgage appraisal the client is typically the lender. The client is clearly disclosed in the appraisal report. While the borrower may pay for the appraisal, the client is the intended user of the report.
Can I have a copy of my appraisal?
An appraiser is required to protect the confidential nature of the appraiser-client relationship. The appraiser is not allowed to disclose any confidential information to parties other than the client and parties specifically authorized by the client, state enforcement agencies, and certain third parties as may be authorized by due process of law. As noted above, the client in an appraisal performed for a lending transaction is typically the lender or mortgage company. Regardless of who pays for an appraisal, the appraiser-client relationship is with the party described as the client in the appraisal report. The borrower typically requests a copy of the appraisal from the lender or mortgage company. The appraiser can not provide a copy to the borrower unless the borrower is the stated client or if permission is granted by the client.
What's the difference between an appraiser and an assessor?
An appraiser is a person licensed or certified to perform appraisals (estimate value). Appraisers often work for banks, lenders, or homeowners and determine property values for use in mortgages, purchases, listings, etc...
In Oregon, the Assessor is an elected official who administers the property tax assessments for each county. The Assessor hires registered appraisers to help determine values for use in the property tax system.
Will my appraiser release the results to the tax assessor?
Your appraiser will not release any confidential information including the appraised value and square footage calculations to the tax assessor without permission from our client. Appraisals performed for mortgages, purchases, sales, etc... are confidential documents and are not disclosed to the tax assessor.
Is an interior inspection of the home required?
In general, most lenders require the appraiser inspect the interior of the home when the appraisal is used in a mortgage finance decision. At times the lender may allow an exterior or "drive-by" appraisal. This decision is made by the client.
What should I expect from the appraisal process?
The appraiser will call the homeowner or realtor to schedule the appraisal inspection if an interior inspection is required. At the scheduled time the appraiser will arrive at the property and alert the occupants to their presence. Please have any dogs or other pets restrained as the appraiser will need access to the front and back yards.
The appraiser will start with an examination of the exterior of the home and outbuildings, taking pictures and measurements and recording information regarding the quality and condition of the home and amenities. The appraiser takes pictures during the process. The lender will often look at these pictures when approving the loan so you may want to make sure these areas show well. If possible remove any ladders, trash, tires, or toys which detract from the pictures of the home. The appraiser's inspection of the exterior of the property will take between 15 minutes to an hour depending on the complexity property.
The appraiser will then inspect the interior of the home. This interior inspection may only take a few minutes or may take longer depending on the home and the type of appraisal requested. Most lenders now require interior photographs of the home, specifically pictures of the kitchen, bathrooms, and living area. In addition, appraisals for reverse mortgages, Fha appraisals and USDA / Rural Housing appraisals require access to the crawl space and the attic.
When the interior inspection has been completed the appraiser will have some questions regarding the home and property. These questions are not technical in nature and can typically be answered by most home owners. At this time please feel free to mention any upgrades, remodeling, or recent improvements. It is always better to tell the appraiser any information you can think of regarding selling points, neighborhood information, amenities, and features. The appraiser can determine if it is relevant but will appreciate any information provided.
At this point the inspection is complete and the appraiser will leave the property. Additional data gathering and analysis typically takes a few days after the appraisal inspection and the appraiser will submit the report to the client when it is completed.
Reynolds Appraisal Services, LLC., Bend, Oregon 97701
(541) 382-2002
Real Estate Appraisals in Central Oregon
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