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Kern Valuation Services

Kern Valuation Services

Real Estate Appraisal Services for Bakersfield and Kern County

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Why choose an SRA designated appraiser?

November 5, 2024 by Steve Magar

When it comes to real estate appraisals, especially for complex or high-stakes situations, choosing an SRA-designated appraiser can make all the difference. The SRA designation, awarded by the Appraisal Institute, signifies an appraiser’s advanced expertise in residential valuation, rigorous ethical standards, and a commitment to delivering the highest-quality assessments. Here’s why hiring an SRA-designated appraiser like Steve Magar can be one of the best choices for your real estate needs.

Proven Expertise in Complex Residential Appraisals

Achieving the SRA designation requires extensive education, practical experience, and mastery in residential valuation. Appraisers with the SRA designation don’t just meet basic state licensing standards—they go above and beyond, equipped with advanced skills to handle unique property types, historical homes, and homes with complex valuation needs. For any property that deviates from the standard cookie-cutter model, an SRA appraiser’s expertise is invaluable.

Unmatched Market Insight

An SRA-designated appraiser knows the local market inside and out, which is crucial for accurate and fair property valuations. For instance, appraisers like Steve Magar, who have years of experience in Kern County, understand not just market trends but the nuanced factors that can affect home values in specific neighborhoods. This local insight helps ensure that your property valuation reflects the true market dynamics at play.

A Commitment to Quality and Ethics

The Appraisal Institute upholds strict ethical guidelines for its SRA appraisers, which means you’re getting an appraiser committed to integrity, transparency, and fairness. SRA appraisers follow best practices in valuation methodologies, which gives clients peace of mind knowing they’re working with a professional who adheres to the industry’s highest standards. Whether for estate planning, tax assessments, or legal matters, an SRA appraiser’s dedication to accuracy and ethics can add a layer of security and confidence.

Comprehensive Approach with Evidence-Based Valuation and Data Analytics

An SRA appraiser brings a broad toolkit to the valuation process, including advanced analytical techniques and data-driven valuation practices. Appraisers like Steve Magar leverage data analytics and evidence-based valuation methods to extract market trends specific to each neighborhood. This provides clients with a clear, data-backed understanding of the property’s worth. This thorough approach to analysis means your valuation is backed by not only experience but also cutting-edge techniques for added accuracy and reliability.

Recognized and Respected by Legal and Financial Professionals

For attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors, working with an SRA-designated appraiser offers a level of credibility and authority that’s widely respected in the industry. SRA appraisers are frequently called upon for expert witness testimony, complex estate valuations, and litigation support, thanks to their thorough understanding of property law and valuation principles. With an SRA appraiser, legal and financial professionals can feel confident they have a trusted expert on board.

In the world of real estate appraisals, experience and integrity are invaluable assets. Choosing an SRA-designated appraiser like Steve Magar means entrusting your valuation needs to a professional who’s not only highly trained but also deeply committed to delivering accurate, reliable results tailored to your unique situation. When the stakes are high, an SRA designation is more than a credential—it’s a mark of excellence you can depend on.

Filed Under: Homeowners, SRA Designation, Uncategorized Tagged With: Bakersfield, Kern County, licensed residential appraiser, market value of a home, residential appraisal

Zillow Zestimates – Know When It Doesn’t Work and What Works

December 6, 2022 by Steve Magar

Zillow was founded in 2005 – a time when real estate was doing great before the big crisis. It brought with it all the power of the internet by allowing users to see how much homes were sold for.

In essence, this could have been tremendous. If buyers could just see the home value posted online, this could have changed the industry forever. This way, there would be no need for appraisers, lending standards would become less aggressive, and fees would just go down.

However, that clearly isn’t the case today.

The thought of having one platform show property listings to millions of people worldwide is both exciting and terrifying for real estate professionals.

The exciting part? Real estate agents can advertise their skills and listings to millions of potential buyers. Agents can even opt for premium accounts for additional listing exposure.

The terrifying part?

  1. It is too common to see homes on Zillow overpriced. In some cases, homes don’t get Zestimates at all.
  2. The leads Zillow generates are of low quality. Users pay high fees for uninterested or non-responsive leads.

Alright, so we see both pros and cons to Zillow. What now?

That is now entirely up to you.

The company is one of the biggest names in real estate, and maybe it can get you the exposure you needed. A word of advice though – be prudent with your spending.

It may be normal for the zestimates to be wrong since these aren’t strictly following best practices in appraising residential properties. But, being a huge brand and not being able to provide value for money leads is a big red flag.

If not Zillow, where else can you go for leads?

You have probably heard it before, but didn’t believe it for one reason or another – Facebook.

Yes, it is true that there is a lot of noise on the world’s biggest social network. But, it is equally true that there are effective ways to advertise to potential clients to rake in those leads.

Before this becomes really long, let me just summarize the point by saying that I’ve seen how Facebook works and doesn’t work for real estate. When you use the formats everyone uses or if you use very ‘salesy’ content for your ads, you just become part of the noise.

On the other hand, focusing the attention on the customer by giving them everything they need gets it done. There’s just nothing more fulfilling for either the buyer or seller than doing something because of trust, and relationships build that.

Yes, sure, it may take money to earn more, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

In this day and age, leaders in digital marketing know that the trend leans towards giving value first – no if’s and but’s.

In the end, the platform’s business model dictates whether you can thrive in it or not.

Does it offer decent ROI in a short span of time?

Does it allow potential clients to build trust in your brand?

Does it help gather leads who are already interested in a specific product or service?

If the answer to all three is a Yes, then you know you’re in good hands.

Conclusion

Typical outbound marketing efforts include having costly kiosks in big networking events. Even in the rise of the digital age, the internet was used for something similar – setup a loud and costly advertisement that reaches many people and expect sales.

In the world of real estate, Zillow can be that big and loud platform.

There may have been a time that these methods worked perfectly, but today is certainly different as people now look for something more intimate.

The difference would be like having a busy public speaker or this quiet yet knowledgeable friend waiting for your call. Who would you rather turn to for help?

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Items Most Frequently Called for Repair

April 25, 2019 by kmagar

  • Carbon monoxide detectors in the hallway for each bedroom
  • Operational smoke alarms
  • Remediation of surface moisture stains
  • Broken window panes
  • Significant Dry rot Repairs
    • Termite Repair
  • Dual Water Heater Straps
    • Properly Vented Pressure Relief Valve
  • Peeling Paint on homes prior to 1978 (FHA)
    • Any peeling paint (VA)
  • Exposed electrical outlets or missing switch plates
  • Inoperable or missing built-in appliances
  • Inoperable heating/cooling systems
  • Roof Stains/Curling shingles – roof certification
  • No Self Closing Garage Access Door (into home)
  • Breach of garage vapor barrier into home (typically pet access door)
  • Pool with no security fence OR pool door alarms on exterior doors
  • Inadequate or restricted access to the perimeter scuttle entrance and/or attic scuttle entrance

*Note: This list is for reference only, and will require analysis on a case by case basis. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list. Check your local municipal building department for local building code requirements.  This list is not meant to replace and may differ from your local building code requirements.



Filed Under: Uncategorized

Meet our NEWEST Appraiser – Josh Hensley

March 10, 2019 by kmagar

Meet our NEWEST Appraiser — Josh Hensley!

Steve and Josh have been working together for many years, and Josh officially joined the team in 2015 and has been diligently pursuing his appraisal license and gaining residential appraisal experience since that time.  Josh excels in the valuation of residential homes and new construction projects.  Congratulations Josh on a big accomplishment!”

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: home appraisal, licensed appraiser, new appraiser, property appraiser, residential appraisal

A Meaningful Gathering for 2018

February 9, 2019 by kmagar

We celebrated the ending to a great year with family and friends with a company dinner at Mamma Mia’s Restaurant downtown.  We are privileged to work with the best staff around!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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    Kern Valuation Service, Bakersfield California

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    • 1402 26th Street, Bakersfield, CA 93301
    • 661-489-3652
    • orders@kernvalpro.com

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