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Appraisal guides

Written by the people who do the work, not a content farm. Start with What is a home appraisal?

• UAD 3.6 and the Redesigned Appraisal Report
  On 2 November 2026 one dynamic report replaces the 1004, the 1073 and ten other legacy forms. What changes for Florida homeowners, lenders and attorneys — including new fields for impact glazing and fortified roofing.
• What Is a Home Appraisal?
  What a home appraisal is, who orders it, what it costs, how long it takes, and what actually moves the number. Written by a Florida state-certified appraiser.
• Appraisal Glossary
  The terms that appear in appraisal reports and what they actually mean — adjustments, comparables, effective date, URAR, ERC, reconsideration of value and more.
• Appraisal Prep Checklist
  A one-page checklist of what to gather and do before the appraiser arrives — print it, work through it, hand over the folder.
• Appraisal vs CMA vs BPO
  A CMA is a listing tool. A BPO is a lender's shortcut. An appraisal is the one that holds up in court, at the IRS, and with a lender.
• Appraisal vs Home Inspection
  An appraiser values the property for the lender. An inspector examines its condition for you. Two different jobs, and you usually need both.
• Appraisal vs Zestimate and Other AVMs
  An automated valuation has never seen your house. Where AVMs work, where they fail badly, and why South Florida is one of the places they fail.
• How Appraisers Choose Comparable Sales
  Comparable selection decides almost every appraisal dispute. What makes a sale comparable, how adjustments work, and where it goes wrong in South Florida.
• How Long Does an Appraisal Take?
  Realistic timelines for the inspection, the report, and the whole process — and what actually causes delays in South Florida.
• How to Prepare for an Appraisal
  What actually helps before an appraiser arrives, what makes no difference, and the one thing that can make your report unusable.
• Market Value vs Assessed Value
  Why your Florida tax bill shows a number far below what your house is worth — Save Our Homes, the assessment cap, and when an appeal is worth filing.
• Retrospective Appraisals: Valuing a Property as of a Past Date
  How an appraiser establishes what a property was worth on a date months or years ago — for estates, divorce, bankruptcy and tax appeals.
• What Happens If the Appraisal Comes In Low
  Your options when an appraisal lands below the contract price, how a reconsideration of value actually works, and when it is worth trying.