If you’re a business owner who owns the location they’re based out of, there are a multitude of things to know that can affect the growth of your company. One of these important aspects is the value of your location as a whole. Every commercial property is unique in terms of supply, demand, size, location, and more. Each of these factors plays into the value of your property so understanding what your location is worth on the market can offer clarity as to how to grow your business better. Understanding how appraisals work can also help you get clarity on how to maximize an appraisal on a commercial building.
Below, we detail 5 useful things about commercial real estate appraisals to help you get the most out of one.
1. How to Maximize an Appraisal on a Commercial Building: Understanding What Commerical Real Estate Appraisers Do During an Appraisal
The role of an appraiser is to detail the most accurate value of a piece of property. Think of them like detectives that need to put together all the details like property size, features, and others before making a final call. Once they’ve gathered all the data, they analyze it and present their finding to you as an official document that goes over how each of the aspects of your commercial property played into their appraisal.
2. What Commercial Buildings Can Actually Get Appraised
Good news! There are no limitations on commercial real estate appraisers being able to appraise any kind of commercial property. This includes condos, apartment buildings, industrial sites, malls, office buildings, and so on. However, the commercial appraiser must be certified and licensed as a commercial appraiser such as an AACI (Accredited Appraiser Canadian Institute).
3. Commercial Real Estate Appraisals Aren’t the Same as Property Inspections
Whereas appraisals focus on the value of your property, commercial property inspections (also known as a property condition assessment or a building condition assessment) focus more on the safety of the property. Think of a commercial property inspector as a mechanic for your commercial property that identifies which parts are wearing out and need to be replaced—but they are simply observations. The commercial property inspector must also be certified as a commercial building inspector so you shouldn’t hire a home inspector to do the same work as a commercial property inspector.
Conversely, an appraiser needs to be accredited, and the value they state can be legally binding. In fact…
4. Appraisals Can Be Used in Court So Being Honest During the Process Is Essential
Naturally, you want the value of your commercial real estate to be as high as possible, but it’s crucial to be honest when an appraiser asks you questions. Appraisal documents can be used as evidence in court, so by being honest you ensure there are no additional issues you’re creating for yourself in future.
5. Appraisals Are Tailored to Your Property
While all appraisals will typically take a standard approach for most of the general appraisal tasks that need to be accomplished, their appraisal report is always adjusted and modified to account for the features of any property.
Overall, commercial real estate appraisals offer company owners valuable insight into another aspect of their business.
