Most of us don’t really want to deal with another middle man when it comes to buying or selling real estate. Just dealing with your agent and the other party’s agent is more than enough, right? Sorry to disappoint you, but that assumption is actually wrong. Real estate appraisal is a discipline in itself. It is the practice of creating and opinion about the actual value of a property, a concept that is bigger than price. A very good real estate agent with years of experience can come very close to the actual value of a property but agents do not have the training or the tools to come to that number. You’d be better off getting an appraiser to find the actual market value of your property if you want to put it in the market.

Real estate appraisers are so important that their evaluation will be vital for a bank deciding whether they would lend the money or not. In many countries appraisers have to be certified and licensed individuals, and it has become a very well paid profession. But be careful and do not confuse an appraisal with a home inspection. An appraisal has nothing to do with the state of your chimney or the roof, as it does not deal with the physical state or condition of a house. Remember the appraisal relates only to a property’s market value.