Condemnation
Appraisals

The assignment is an appraisal of the property or interests subject to the taking, concluded under a value definition appropriate to the proceeding and a stated intended use. It may value the whole property or the part taken and damages to the remainder, depending on scope. The deliverable is a written appraisal report documenting the scope, property, evidence, and value conclusion. It is valuation support, not legal representation, and the close relationship with eminent domain means the same property may be appraised under either heading depending on the stage.

Property owners and their attorneys use condemnation appraisals when a taking has proceeded to formal proceedings or dispute and a supported value is needed for the matter. For example, an owner disputing compensation for a taking may need an appraisal to support their position. Legal strategy is determined with counsel.

The analysis considers the property's characteristics and condition, the interests affected, the applicable value definition and intended use, and market evidence. For a partial taking, it may consider the value of the part taken and damages to the remainder. The valuation approaches applied depend on the property type and data. The conclusion is a supported opinion of value, not a guarantee of a settlement or outcome.

We begin by discussing the proceeding and the value question to confirm scope and the value definition. After agreeing on scope, we inspect the property when appropriate, research comparable market evidence, analyze the data, and deliver a written appraisal report. Scope, fees, and timing depend on the property and the complexity of the taking.