Anyone can put "certified appraiser" on a website. In California you can check it in about two minutes.
Look up the license
The state's Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (BREA) runs a public search. Use BREA's Search for an Appraiser, type in the name, and check:
- The license is current, not expired.
- The level shown. A Certified Residential or Certified General license is what most estate, tax and court work calls for.
- Whether any discipline is listed.
Ask the appraiser for the license number and match it yourself. Do not rely on a badge or a logo.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Have you done appraisals in Escondido, and do you know the neighborhoods?
- Can you value the home as of a past date, if I need one?
- What will the report be used for, and will it meet that purpose?
- What do you need from me, and when can the appraiser see the inside of the home?
- What is the fee, and what is included if a lawyer later has questions about the report?
- Will it be in writing before work starts?
A few signs to be careful about
- A fee quoted before anyone has asked what the appraisal is for.
- A license number that does not match the name in the state's search.
- A promise to hit a particular value. An appraiser reports what the sales support.
Local help
The City of Escondido publishes research pages for older properties, and the San Diego County Assessor keeps parcel records. Gathering those before you call saves time with any appraiser.
If you would like to talk it through, our number is at the top of this page.