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Who Estimates Ultimate Sales Prices Better: Agents or Appraisers?


Woman appraising a real estate property

Your trusted real estate consultant is often better at estimating values in dynamic markets.


Appraisers can't correlate values to pending sales, and they lack the intuitive knowledge that agents have about:


  • Number of active buyers in the market

  • Latest design and appeal trends

  • "Coming soon" listings

  • Other market dynamics


Agents gain these insights by networking with other agents and working directly with multiple sellers and buyers. It would be nearly impossible for appraisers to access the same information unless they are also active, full-time agents.


Appraisers primarily rely on closed sales data, which is often several months old. In hot or very slow markets, a three-month-old comparable sale is practically ancient—especially considering that the offer was likely accepted a month or more before closing.

That said, agents absolutely need appraisers and sound appraisals to:


  • Prevent fraud

  • Protect lenders

  • Provide consistent platforms for collateral analysis

  • Identify condition issues that other parties might miss

  • Catch nuances that automated valuation models (like Zillow) often miss, such as views, busy streets, nearby schools, design, condition, deferred maintenance, and more.


Ready to Find Out What Your Home is Worth?

Thinking about selling your home in the next 3-6 months and want to get a sense of how much you will net?


I am happy to visit your home, see it firsthand, and let you know my professional opinion. Just keep in mind, markets are constantly changing based on so many local, national, and international issues.





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