Stop guessing about real estate value! An accurate appraisal is very important because so much national wealth lies in real estate that the determination of its value is critical to the economic well being of society as a whole. It is the charge of the professional appraiser to determine these values by gathering, analyzing and applying data pertinent to a property. Without question, the professional opinion of the appraiser, backed by extensive training and knowledge, influences the decisions of people who own, manage, sell, purchase, invest in and lend money on the security of real estate. Also, since the appraiser is trained to be an impartial third party in the lending process, the appraisal serves as a vital “check in the system” and protects buyers from overpaying for property as well as lenders from over-lending to borrowers.