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Georgia Valuation Source

Residential Appraisal Experts

Appraisal Help Center

Residential Appraisal Help Center

Understand whether an appraisal may fit your situation, what type of assignment may be appropriate, what information to prepare, and what happens next. Not legal, tax, or lending advice — and never a property value estimate.

Do I Need an Appraisal?Build Your AssignmentDocument ChecklistWhat to ExpectAppraisal vs. Other Services

Do I Need an Appraisal?

Answer a few quick questions about your situation. This tool determines a helpful next step — it never calculates, estimates, or guarantees a property value, and it's not legal or tax advice.

Why are you considering an appraisal?

Build Your Appraisal Assignment

A quick summary of your situation, carried over to your appraisal request so you don't have to repeat yourself. Nothing here is saved unless you continue to Get Started.

Who will rely on this report — you, an attorney, a lender, the court, etc.?

Continuing takes you to our secure request form. This summary is stored only in your browser until you submit it there.

Personalized Document Checklist

0 of 4 marked "Have"

Basic Property Information

Address, approximate square footage, and any known upgrades.

Improvements / Renovations

A list of upgrades and their approximate dates.

Any Prior Appraisal

A previous appraisal report for this property, if one exists.

Property Access

How the appraiser can access the property (if an interior inspection applies).

Saved privately in your browser only — nothing is uploaded, sent to us, or requires an account. This checklist is for general preparation and is not a guarantee of any assignment outcome.

What Should I Expect?

A general walkthrough of what happens between sharing your situation and receiving your completed report.

  1. 1

    Share Your Situation

    Tell us your purpose, property, and (if applicable) the effective date you need — through the Assignment Builder or Get Started.

  2. 2

    We Review the Assignment

    We confirm the appropriate scope of work and reach out if anything needs clarifying before scheduling.

  3. 3

    Scheduling

    If an interior inspection is required, we coordinate a convenient time to visit the property.

  4. 4

    Inspection

    The appraiser inspects the property (when required) and documents its condition and characteristics.

  5. 5

    Market & Data Analysis

    The appraiser researches comparable sales and relevant market data, and applies professional judgment to the assignment.

  6. 6

    Report Preparation

    Findings are compiled into a written report that meets recognized appraisal standards.

  7. 7

    Delivery

    Your completed report is securely delivered, typically to you and/or the intended user(s) named in the assignment.

Timelines vary by assignment complexity, scheduling, and whether an interior inspection is required — this is a general guide, not a fixed schedule for every situation.

Appraisal vs. Other Property Services

Different tools answer different questions — here's how they compare.

Independent Appraisal

Answers
What is this property's supportable market value, prepared to a professional standard?
Who Provides It
A state-licensed or state-certified real property appraiser.
Best For
Estate/probate, divorce/legal, tax appeals, PMI removal, lending, and any situation requiring a defensible, standards-based opinion of value.
Limitations
Takes longer and costs more than a CMA or AVM; not a substitute for legal or tax advice.

CMA (Comparative Market Analysis)

Answers
What might this home sell for in today's market?
Who Provides It
A licensed real estate agent, usually as a free service.
Best For
Setting an initial listing price or getting a quick, informal read on the market.
Limitations
Not a standards-based valuation, not typically accepted for legal, tax, or lending purposes.

Automated Valuation Model (AVM)

Answers
What does an algorithm estimate this property is worth, based on public records?
Who Provides It
Online real estate platforms and data providers.
Best For
A fast, free, general sense of value with no property inspection.
Limitations
Can be significantly inaccurate for unique or renovated properties; not property-specific; not accepted for legal, tax, or lending purposes. Georgia Valuation Source does not provide AVM-based estimates.

Home Inspection

Answers
What is the physical condition of this home, and are there defects or safety issues?
Who Provides It
A licensed home inspector.
Best For
Buyers before purchase, or homeowners checking on systems/structure — a different question than value.
Limitations
Does not produce an opinion of market value.

Land / Boundary Survey

Answers
Where exactly are this property's legal boundaries and easements?
Who Provides It
A licensed land surveyor.
Best For
Confirming property lines, resolving boundary disputes, or new construction.
Limitations
Does not produce an opinion of market value.

Georgia Valuation Source provides independent, licensed appraisal services only — we do not produce automated/algorithmic (AVM) value estimates.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. This Help Center never calculates, estimates, or validates a property value. It only helps you understand whether an appraisal may fit your situation and what to do next.

No. Nothing here is legal, tax, or lending advice. For estate, divorce, or other legal matters, confirm requirements with your attorney or CPA. For lending or PMI matters, confirm requirements with your lender or servicer.

No. The Decision Engine, Document Checklist, and comparison tool all run entirely in your browser. The Assignment Builder only passes a small summary to our secure request form if you choose to continue.

That's an intentional outcome. Some situations (like PMI removal or refinancing) are controlled by your lender or servicer, and some (like general curiosity) may not need a formal appraisal at all — we'll say so directly.

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