Free or Cheap Appraisals – How Good Are They?
People naturally want to save money where they can, and those wanting to sell or refinance their homes are no exception. Perhaps the most important question anyone thinking about doing these things can ask is how much the home is worth on the market. The value of the property is obviously critical to selling or buying, and will be a primary factor in obtaining a loan. An appraisal can answer this question, but that service isn’t cheap. A typical home appraisal fee will run anywhere from $250 to $400 depending on where the property is and what it contains. Naturally, many people seek an alternative to this fee and a search of the internet will reveal a lot of companies and web sites that offer a free or relatively inexpensive solution. Many web sites advertise “free” appraisals. These are typically web sites that ask a home owner to provide a property address and personal contact information. These sites are usually what are known as “lead” generators for real estate brokers. After the
