Rate and Review Prudhoe Appraisal Services

- Crooks - - - 11/20/2016 - comment
I have found things left out, things described wrong, things that weren't even looked at or considered, and a ridiculously low appraisal. Knowing things are wrong and won't take the time to correct or refuse to acknowledge them is dishonest. Like selling a lemon. Is there a lemon law for appraisers? Especially when they keep cheating multiple people with the same errors? Very incompetent.

- incompetent, unprofessional - - E.Baldwin - 10/19/2010 - comment
The volume of factual inaccuracies in the Prudhoe appraisal of my home are huge. Prudhoe Appraisal Service operates as a husband/wife team. The husband, Mr.Prudhoe, was the certified appraiser and appeared to be infirmed. He had great difficult traversing the front staircase of my house and was not able to navigate the rear staircase. He was unable to enter the basement or the rear room on the 3rd floor (both accessible via the rear staircase). Mr. Prudhoe largely relied on his wife to take measurements, using only a tape measurer, and to photograph rooms he could not enter. I specifically overheard his wife ask, "Should I measure....", only to be cut-off by Mr.Prudhoe saying, "No, I got it" before she could finish her question. The net result was square footage measurements for the appraisal that were more than 700 sq. ft lower compared to a 2002 appraisal (where the appraiser measured square footage personally using professional surveyor’s equipment). Other factual inaccuracies include: - Prudhoe listed my home as attached and used fully attached homes for all of his comparables; my home is a semi-attached "end unit" which has 44 windows. - Prudhoe listed the year built as 1920; it was actually built in 1855 as verified by the title research done when I purchase the home in 2000 - which I specifically relayed to Prudoe during the walk-through. - My home has an attached entrance to the house which encloses the original house entrance, complete with new oak flooring and restored, original wood entryway, French doors, glass, et. al.. The appraiser in 2003 classified this as a porch and measured its dimensions as 45 sq. ft.. This feature and it's square footage is completely omitted from the Prudhoe appraisal. - Prudhoe listed the effective age as 18 years; my historic home underwent a full rehab in 2001, making its effective age 9+ years. Restoration of historic elements of the home (the aforementioned entrance, front staircase and original hardwood floors on the 1st and 2nd levels) were completed in the last 10 months. This was also conveyed to Prudhoe. - Prudhoe’s report states that my home does not have AC, a microwave, a washer/dryer, screens on the windows, or fence. My home has all of these features, including two fences and an historic block wall which encloses the front yard. The report list the roof as shingle; it has a premium rubber roof. - Prudhoe’s “Subject Photos” were incomplete and insufficient. The Subject Front photo omits the front yard, fence and first floor of the house. The Subject Rear photo actually shows the side of the house. The Subject Street photo primarily shows the rear end of a parked car. - Prudhoe raiser incorrectly identified the neighborhood my home is located in, then chose comparables largely based on his erroneous neighborhood identification. - Upon receipt of the appraisal, the underwriter of my refinance loan called for a Field Review because Prudhoe’s report did not meet the base requirements for approval. - Perhaps most significantly, the comparable property Prudhoe used as the primary benchmark for assessing the value of my home, is simply not a comparable property. I drove by and looked at this property personally; It appears to be under construction. There is a dumpster on the street in front of it and what I believe to be inspection notices taped to the front window of the property. The building next to it has collapsed; it literally is a huge pile of bricks and rubble enclosed by a chain-link fence. This property is located in an area identified as an open-air drug market by the local paper. In comparison, my home is located several blocks east in a non-contiguous area that is literally next to a famous University. To compound these factual inaccuracies, Mr. Prudhoe criticized the décor of my home and he criticized my artwork. One comment Mr. Prudhoe made to his wife while I was standing next to him was, “Look honey (pointing at one of my sculptures), this guy has too much free time.” I am aware superficialities like wall color and hung artwork should not substantively affect a professional appraisal. But in light of the gross factual inaccuracies contained in his appraisal, compounded by his rude remarks, Prudhoe’s obvious lack of thorough professionalism renders his ability to accurately appraise real estate questionable (at best).
     A - 11/20/2016 - In reading previous complaints, I have the same complaints. I think this appraisal service should be questioned. They are costing people money, refuse to correct their errors, and not competent. This is a crime.