What an Appraisal Actually MeasuresA property appraisal is not an estimate pulled from instinct or optimism. It is a structured process grounded in market evidence - comparable sales, current buyer behaviour, and what the local market has recently demonstrated it will pay.Purchase price does not factor into the appraisal. N… Read More

Anchoring to an Emotional Number Instead of Market DataEmotional anchoring is probably the most common appraisal mistake. It is also the least visible - because sellers who experience it rarely recognise it as a mistake at the time.The market does not know what a seller paid. It does not factor in renovation costs, mortgage… Read More

Appraisals Involve Interpretation Not Just DataGetting two appraisals that disagree is not evidence that one agent is wrong. It is evidence that pricing involves judgement, not just calculation.The data is public. The methodology is consistent. What varies is the interpretation of how that data applies to this property, in … Read More

Why Street Appeal Matters Before Any AppraisalThis is not a checklist of tasks. It is an explanation of why preparation works when it does - so sellers can make informed decisions about where to direct their attention in the days before an agent walks through.Street appeal is not about perfection. It is about removing the s… Read More

The Limitations Behind Automated Valuation ModelsMost sellers check an online estimate before speaking to an agent. Understandable. Also where the first pricing misconception usually starts.The algorithm has never walked through. It does not know the kitchen was renovated last year, or that the rear addition is non-complian… Read More