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Asking For Opinions |
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Dear Edith: Our children will be going off to college in a few years and we are starting to think about looking for a smaller house. We want to find out how much our house would likely sell for. The broker we have worked with in the past has retired, so we need to find a new one. We would like to ask several brokers for appraisals, to get a range of ideas on the worth of our house. Is that proper? What obligations do we have towards the brokers who give us appraisals? |
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The rule is that "if it's free, it isn't an appraisal." But you aren't looking for a full-fledged formal appraisal, the kind complete with floor plans and pictures of the surrounding neighborhood. You need simple estimates of market value, and neighborhood brokers are often happy to furnish those with no obligation to you. It allows them to present themselves and demonstrate the services they can render, and it means they'll be familiar with your property when it goes on the market. Don't hesitate to call nearby brokerages and ask for help. You may run in to the occasional agent who doesn't enjoy giving out free service, but most are glad to do it just for the chance to make friends |
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Edith
Originally published on January 15, 2005 |
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