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Our Services

Residential Appraisal Services

We pride ourselves on providing residential real estate services for a multitude of purposes, with a blend of timeliness, friendly customer service, and well written, accurate appraisals being our hallmark. We work with private clients and lenders and consultations are available upon request. A list of our most common purposes for residential services are listed further down this page; however, we also complete highest and best use analysis and feasibility studies for seasoned and aspiring developers alike. If you need a residential appraisal for a purpose not listed on this page, please feel free to contact us directly to see if we can provide that service.

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Commercial Appraisal Services

Our commercial services include the appraisal of five or more unit commercial apartment buildings, mixed-use buildings, retail locations, restaurants, warehouses, industrial facilities, motel/hotels and more. If you need an appraisal of an asset/property type not listed above, please feel free to contact us directly to see if we can provide that service.

Full Range of real estate Appraisal Services

Commercial Appraisals

We offer commercial real estate appraisals throughout the Chicagoland Market. Our commercial appraisal partners have over 15 years of experience and can help you identify the property value of your commercial entity.

  • Pre-Listing/Personal Use
  • Estate/Date of Death
  • Divorce
  • Ad Valorem Tax Appeal
  • Primary/Secondary Mortgage Use
  • REO/Foreclosure Use
  • PMI Removal
  • Bankruptcy
  • Hard Money Lending
  • Guardianship Use
  • Bail Bonds/Immigration
  • IRS/Investment

Frequently Asked Questions

What areas do you service?

In the Chicagoland area, we service all of Cook, Lake, DuPage, Will, Kane and McHenry Counties. In Texas, we service Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Johnson, Kaufman and Denton Counties

It is always best to share the following information to help facilitate expenses and time:
  • What is the purpose of the report?
  • What is the intended use of the appraisal?

To prepare for your appraisal:

  • Which items are involved, and what is their location?
  • Gather documentation. This may include sales receipts, certificates, past appraisals, letters, or other authentication.
  • Have items ready, unlocked, and available. If items are part of a set, like candlesticks or silverware, have them grouped together.
  • Clean the items. To ensure an accurate inspection and successful photography, it is important to remove any dust or dirt that may be obscuring the item.
  • For an appraisal Prepare for a home appraisal by maximizing curb appeal, cleaning thoroughly, and addressing minor repairs like leaky faucets or chipped paint to improve the home’s condition rating. Create a list of,and document, all recent upgrades (e.g., new roof, HVAC) with receipts. Ensure the appraiser has full access to all areas, including the attic, crawl spaces, and garage

To prepare for your appraisal

An appraisal that is done thoroughly and without interruption helps both the client and the appraiser.

It is always best to share the following information to help facilitate expenses and time:
  • What is the purpose of the report?
  • What is the intended use of the appraisal?

To prepare for your appraisal:

Prepare for a home appraisal by maximizing curb appeal, cleaning thoroughly, and addressing minor repairs like leaky faucets or chipped paint to improve the home’s condition rating. Create a list of, and document, all recent upgrades (e.g., new roof, HVAC) with receipts. Ensure the appraiser has full access to all areas, including the attic, crawl spaces, and garage

Examination: The appraiser examines all the property to be included in the final report, noting and evaluating characteristics, conditions, and measurements of most items.

Photographs: Digital images are taken to document the item’s existence and aid in research. These photographs are included in the final report.

Research: Each item is studied and researched to determine its value based upon comparable sales and histories. Research time may include identification of marks, labels, dates, and locations; analysis of comparable items; market research; and expert consultation.

Reporting: The final report from GOLDWEIGHT Appraisal & consists of a copy of the completed appraisal along with the appraiser’s qualifications, purpose, and basis of appraisal. The typical report includes the inventory, market research, valuation, and necessary comments pertinent to the property. Each item or group of items has a description, age (if appropriate), measurements, condition, value, and photograph. All GOLDWEIGHT Appraisal reports are compliant with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an appraisal?

An appraisal is a professional assessment of property to determine fair market value. Assessments are most often used for tax and insurance purposes or in estate planning or wills.

Being an appraiser is not an exact science, so it is essential for real estate appraisers to stay up-to-date in their profession by maintaining valid credentials with a professional appraiser association and engaging in regular continuing education. Additionally, it is important for appraisers to follow the strict codes of conduct and standards of report writing that are established for the profession.

GOLDWEIGHT Appraisal specialize in several types of appraisals, including the following:

  • Insurance appraisals provide necessary documentation to substantiate the existence, condition, and replacement value of your belongings. It is wise to have an update done every five years or ahead of any pending household move.
  • Estate appraisals are necessary for taxable estates. This appraisal includes an efficient catalog of property that meets IRS requirements, but without the level of detail normally provided for an insurance appraisal.
  • Donation appraisals are suggested by the IRS to substantiate a tax deduction above $1000. Donation appraisals are REQUIRED for anything above $5000 that has been given to a charitable institution. GOLDWEIGHT Appraisal’s advice: When in doubt, appraise.
  • Pre-move appraisals provide an inventory of your high value items to substantiate both their value and existence. Due to the limited level of protection provided by moving companies to account for damage or loss, these appraisals will help you to purchase additional insurance and recover any damages incurred during the move.
  • Equitable distribution appraisals help settle divorces or estates for fair distribution of property based on fair market value.
  • Trust or will inventory appraisals will be attached to the trust or will, and a copy will be given to the trust attorney. They will now have knowledge of your property, and with your comments on the report, they will know who is to inherit which items.

Full appraisal services should only be conducted by educated and nationally certified appraisal experts. That expert will provide you with a formal written and descriptive report, complete with photos, and they should be willing to defend their assessment in court. The report should include any limiting or qualifying conditions, the appraiser’s qualifications, a complete and accurate description of the items, market analysis, markets selected, and well-defined value conclusions.