How to Appeal Your Appraisal      

1)  If you are a loan officer:  Have your customer review their appraisal.  Specifcally, have them check the appraisal for the correct square footage, bedroom count, bath count, and updates.  Find out if the appraisal report includes all thier upgrades, updates and additions.  For example, they may have a new HVAC, new fixtures, new deck, or remodeled kitchen.  Sometimes, appraisal reports don't list these items, and they can have an important impact on value. 

2)  If you are a homeowner:  Review the above plus provide some feedback on the comparables used in the appraisal.  Sometimes comparables are not appropriate or not adjusted correctly.  Common errors can include a comparable with inferior updating, a comparable with inferior condition, a comparble with an inferior lot (ie. steep drive, proximity to traffic, trains, commercial, etc.) 

The best way to get an alternative value is to provide better comparables.  With growing pressure on appraisers to meet turn-around-times sometimes comparables are missed. 

3)  Finally, Email the appraisal to me, I'll be happy to take a look.  For a nominal fee, I'll provide a list of credible questions that could suggest an alternative.  For example,   Why was there no adjustment to comparable 1 for having a steep driveway?  Comparable 2 had been rented to tenants when it sold.  Was the "poor" condition taken into account?  Etc.