Frequently
Asked
Questions

Cedarwood provides residential appraisal services for single-family homes, condominiums, 2-4 unit residential properties, acreage, waterfront homes, custom and luxury residences, investment properties, land, and other complex or atypical residential real estate.

Cedarwood primarily serves King, Snohomish, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties, with other Western Washington assignments considered based on location, property type, and scope.

Appraisal fees are quoted individually based on the property, assignment complexity, effective date, intended use, location, required research, and scope of work. Once we understand the assignment, we can provide a fee quote before work begins.

Turnaround time depends on the property and assignment. Standard residential assignments may often be completed within several business days following inspection and receipt of necessary information, while complex, retrospective, legal, or research-intensive assignments may require additional time. Timing is discussed before the engagement is accepted.

Rush assignments may be available depending on scheduling, property complexity, research requirements, and the requested delivery date. Contact Cedarwood with your deadline and we can determine availability.

Not necessarily. The appropriate scope depends on the intended use, effective date, available property information, and circumstances of the assignment. Some appraisals require an interior and exterior observation, while certain retrospective or specialized assignments may be completed using other credible property information.

A retrospective appraisal develops an opinion of value as of a date in the past. These assignments are commonly used for date-of-death, probate, estate, trust, tax, and certain legal matters. The analysis focuses on market conditions and comparable data relevant to the historical effective date.

A date-of-death appraisal is a retrospective valuation that estimates the property’s market value as of the date an owner passed away. It may also be called a “stepped-up cost” appraisal. It may be used in estate administration, inheritance, tax, trust, or related matters.

A CMA and automated valuation estimate can provide useful market context, but they are not the same as an appraisal. An appraisal is developed by a licensed or certified appraiser who analyzes the property, relevant market evidence, intended use, and applicable valuation methods to produce an independent opinion of value.

Yes. Cedarwood provides independent residential valuations for divorce, marital dissolution, estate, probate, trust, buyout, and other legal or private matters. The appropriate scope depends on the purpose of the appraisal and the needs of the client and intended users.

Yes. When required, Cedarwood can perform retrospective analysis using historical market conditions and comparable sales relevant to the requested effective date.

That depends on the assignment, intended users, and how the appraisal is engaged. These details should be clarified before the appraisal begins, particularly in divorce, estate, trust, or other matters involving multiple interested parties.

Yes. Attorneys, fiduciaries, trustees, personal representatives, and other authorized parties may engage Cedarwood. Intended users, intended use, effective date, and assignment scope are established as part of the engagement.

The most helpful information includes the property address, purpose of the appraisal, requested effective date, intended use, relevant deadlines, known property complexities, and any documents that may be relevant to the assignment.

You do not need to stage the home as if it were being marketed for sale. Providing reasonable access to the property and making relevant improvements, renovations, plans, permits, or other useful information available can help the appraisal process.

Not necessarily. The market may recognize some improvements more strongly than others, and construction cost does not always equal market value. The appraisal considers how buyers in the relevant market respond to the improvements.

Yes. Certain assignments can develop value based on proposed improvements or a hypothetical completed condition when the scope of work supports it. Plans, specifications, budgets, and other project information may be required.

Yes. Depending on the assignment, Cedarwood may provide market rent analysis, single-family rent schedules, operating income statements, and valuation of residential income properties within the appropriate licensing and property-type scope.

Appraisal reports are prepared for identified clients and intended users under the terms of the engagement. Cedarwood does not treat appraisal reports as general public documents and follows applicable professional confidentiality requirements.

We review the property, purpose of the appraisal, timing, location, and assignment requirements. Cedarwood will then follow up regarding scope, availability, fee, and any additional information needed before the engagement begins.