About our Profession
When you hire a professional appraisal company, you expect an objective, impartial, and unbiased opinion about the value of your property. This opinion of the appraisal is based on a variety of factors, including a detailed analysis of the property itself, relevant market research and the specialized expertise and judgment of the appraiser.
At SVS, we handle appraisals for a wide range of property types, from apartments and single-family homes to shopping centers, industrial and office buildings, and complex properties.
Analyzing Details and Records
To bring you the most accurate valuation, an appraiser will first assemble a series of facts, statistics and other information that’s relevant to your property, from comparable sales to applicable tax laws. He or she will then analyze this data to put together a credible, defensible opinion of the property’s value.
Accurate appraisals assist those who buy, sell, invest in, manage or lend money on the security of real estate, and qualified appraisers can offer you advice on any of these matters.
The Fine Print: Background, Qualifications, and Licenses
To qualify as a real estate appraiser in New York, all appraisers must be certified or licensed by the state. They must therefore complete a series of courses and hands-on training and pass an examination that is administered by the New York State Real Estate Appraisal Board.
Appraisers who become designated members of the Appraisal Institute, a global membership association with nearly 23,000 members, have gone well beyond these requirements with more rigorous levels of education and experience. They must also adhere to strict standards and a code of professional ethics.
The Appraisal Institute currently confers the MAI designation on appraisers who are experienced in the valuation of commercial, industrial, residential, and other types of properties. The SRA membership designation is held by those who are experienced in the analysis and valuation of residential real property.
To achieve these designations, appraisers must pass rigorous educational requirements, submit strictly regulated examples of relevant experience, and receive credit for a demonstration appraisal report. MAI designated appraisers must also pass a comprehensive final examination. The most sought after International designation is from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, which is held by our principals, Matthew Smith and Andrew Albro.
Why SVS is Different than another Appraisal Company
SVS is committed to staying at the forefront of the highest standards of our profession, and we are actively involved with the Appraisal Institute at the local, regional and national levels. Our staff includes five MAI and five SRA-designated appraisers, as well as two past presidents of the Long Island Chapter of the Appraisal Institute. We are also actively involved with the New York State Board of Real Estate Appraisal.