It’s not just a good idea — and it’s not just the law — it’s your constitutional right that if the government wants to condemn your property, or take it from you by means of “eminent domain,” it must give you “just” compensation. That’s where we come in.
The government is likely to have its own idea of “just” compensation, maybe based on a professional appraisal. But an appraisal on your behalf, performed under the standards of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), is powerful — and useful — evidence of what you’re entitled to, and protects your rights.
It works the other way, too. We perform work for government clients needing to offer and provide “just” compensation in eminent domain cases. A USPAP-compliant appraisal is the best way to determine fair market value of any property.
If the above makes condemnation appraisals sound simple, that’s not the case. There are many legal and procedural issues involved in an accurate condemnation appraisal.A federal condemnation will require a different analysis and report format than a state or local taking. And in any event, the jurisdiction proposing to condemn the property is likely to have its own rules for appraisal that must be followed. It is important to hire an appraisal firm that has experience and training in these types of valuations.