Fairfax County Home Appraisals

My attorney, lender, accountant, or real estate agent said I need a home appraisal in Fairfax County. What exactly am I ordering?

You are ordering an independent opinion of fair market value prepared for a specific property, purpose, and effective date. The correct appraisal depends on who requested it and what decision the report must support. A divorce case, date of death, trust administration, PMI removal request, tax appeal, pre-listing decision, and cash purchase do not require the same scope or explanation.

I am a Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser with 34 years of experience and more than 15,000 completed appraisals. I was born at Inova Fairfax Hospital, grew up in Fairfax County, built my own home here, and have spent my career studying the neighborhoods, property types, and market forces that affect local value.

Unlike an online estimate, a professional appraisal analyzes the specific property, relevant comparable sales, condition, location, site characteristics, improvements, and the market as of the required date. Call or text 703-350-2542 with the property address and tell me who said you need the appraisal. I will help identify the correct assignment before you order.

Start with the reason someone told you to obtain an appraisal. That reason determines the intended use, intended users, effective date, property rights, inspection requirements, and report format.

Legal and family matters may require a date of death appraisal, estate or probate valuation, trust appraisal, divorce appraisal, retrospective appraisal, or appraisal review. These assignments often require a value as of a prior date and a report that can be understood by attorneys, accountants, trustees, executors, beneficiaries, and other authorized users.

Homeownership and financing decisions may involve PMI removal, private decision-making before a refinance, or another lender-related need. Mortgage lending appraisals generally must be ordered through the lender, so tell me exactly what the lender requested before placing an order.

Tax and planning assignments may include a Fairfax County real estate assessment appeal, gift or estate planning, basis documentation, or valuation connected to a medically necessary home modification. These reports must answer the correct tax or planning question without overstating what an appraisal can establish.

Real estate decisions may require a pre-listing appraisal, cash buyer pre-offer appraisal, fix-and-flip analysis, renovation value analysis, or an independent value opinion before negotiations.

Fairfax County is not one uniform market. I appraise homes throughout Fairfax, Fairfax Station, Burke, Springfield, Annandale, Vienna, Oakton, McLean, Great Falls, Reston, Herndon, Chantilly, Centreville, Clifton, Falls Church, Lorton, and the Fairfax County portions of Alexandria.

The county includes condominiums near Metro, older split-level homes, townhouses, planned communities, luxury estates, acreage properties, new construction, historic homes, properties with septic systems or private wells, floodplain and Resource Protection Area issues, accessory dwelling units, and heavily renovated homes. The most relevant comparable sale is not always the closest sale. Accurate local valuation requires understanding the specific neighborhood, property type, site, condition, and buyer market.

• Estate and Date of Death Appraisals: Current or retrospective fair market value for executors, heirs, attorneys, accountants, probate matters, and basis documentation.

  Divorce Appraisals: Independent current or retrospective valuation for marital dissolution, settlement discussions, mediation, and litigation support.

  Trust Appraisals: Valuation for trust administration, successor trustee inventory, beneficiary distribution, transfer, sale, tax planning, or a required prior date.

  PMI Removal Appraisals: Independent equity analysis when a homeowner needs to understand current value before approaching the mortgage servicer.

  Fairfax County Tax Appeal Appraisals: Market evidence and valuation analysis connected to a real estate assessment challenge.

  Pre-Listing and Pre-Offer Appraisals: Independent value guidance before pricing a home, accepting an offer, or making a cash purchase.

  Fix-and-Flip and Renovation Appraisals: Current and prospective value analysis for investors, homeowners, and renovation decisions.

  Medical and Disability Modification Appraisals: Before-and-after value analysis when an accountant or attorney requests support connected to a medically necessary home improvement.

What should I say when I call?

Tell me the property address, who requested the appraisal, why it is needed, whether the value must be current or as of a prior date, and whether an attorney, CPA, lender, trustee, executor, or other professional will use the report.

Does every appraisal require an interior inspection?

No. The appropriate scope depends on the assignment, available information, intended use, and professional requirements. Some assignments need a full interior and exterior inspection. Others may support a different agreed scope. I will explain what is appropriate before accepting the assignment.

Can you appraise a Fairfax County property as of a past date?

Yes. Retrospective appraisals are frequently required for date of death, estate, trust, divorce, tax, and legal matters. The report analyzes the market and property information relevant to the required effective date.

Can I order the appraisal if a mortgage lender requested it?

Ask the lender first. Appraisals used for mortgage lending generally must be ordered through the lender or its appraisal management process. I can still help you understand what the lender is asking for.

How do I get started?

Call or text 703-350-2542. I will identify the correct appraisal type, confirm the scope, fee, effective date, inspection needs, and expected timeline before the assignment begins.