Divorce is painful enough on its own. But finding out that yours did not end as you thought it did is even more painful. How can you be sure you got the correct divorce appraisal? How do you find a professional appraiser who you can trust?

Read on to find out what you need to do for an honest property evaluation in Auburn, Federal Way, Lakewood, Olympia, Puyallup, Tacoma, and University Place. But first of all, you may be wondering:

Why do I need an appraisal during the divorce?

When you and your husband/wife separate, your goods will be divided in two as well. This includes any real estate properties too, so you may want to know what your fair share of the real estate is.

How to find a professional appraiser

You don’t want to play with these things; if the appraisal is incorrect, you risk losing money which is rightfully yours. But here comes the good news: during a divorce you need to hire an attorney. Attorneys are usually in direct contact with reputable appraisal companies and they can guide you towards an unbiased professional.

However, if you want to do some work on your own, you can search for an appraiser yourself. Don’t walk in the dark. Here are some things you need to know if you want to get a fair divorce appraisal:

• An appraiser must be certified by the Certified Appraisers Guild of America 
• They must have passed the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) test 
• Ask their former clients for feedback 
• Refuse to work with the appraiser if they ask for a commission of your property’s value 
• Look for someone who is willing to testify in court  
• Sign a contract, but not before asking for an estimate of the cost 

If your appraiser meets all the criteria mentioned above, you can hire them for your divorce appraisal. They are professionals who know their jobs and you will get a fair estimate of your property’s value.