Frequently Asked Questions

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Green Oak Appraisal Team was founded by husband and wife, Alfred and Katherine. Alfred has over 25 years of experience in concrete and general construction and has a knack for problem solving. Katherine has been in real estate since graduating from college with a B.A. in Business in 2008, first as a lender and then as a commercial appraiser for top firms around the country. Katherine has a Certified General license in appraising, which means there are no restrictions to what real estate she can appraise. When Alfred and Katherine realized there was a need in Yellowstone County for qualified and experienced real estate appraisers, Green Oak Appraisal Team was born!

Green Oak Appraisal Team appraises single-family, multi-family, vacant residential land, and select income-producing properties. We provide values for As Is, As Renovated, As Complete, As Stabilized and more.

The turnaround time for an appraisal report varies depending on the complexity of the property and other factors, however, a typical turnaround time is one week or less. Green Oak Appraisal Team strives to provide timely and efficient service to clients, so please contact us for a tailored timeframe for your order.

Costs can vary between $400-$3,000 depending on the complexity of the property type. We do charge a premium for shorter-than-normal turnaround times. We are also competitively priced against CMAs and BPOs. Please contact us directly for a quote.

Real estate appraisals typically utilize at least two of the three approaches to value, including the cost approach, sales approach, and income approach. We utilize the most relevant approaches to value, depending on the property type, in order to produce a reliable report.

Once you’ve placed an order with us, we will schedule a site inspection to inspect your property. The site inspection is generally quick, no more than an hour typically. During this time we will tour your property and take photos. We might ask questions during our site inspection because we are gathering information on the property. We will measure the property and floor layout. We will gather property data and other relevant information independently. Lastly, we will formulate our analysis on your property, utilizing the relevant three approaches to value.

No, appraising real estate is a complex process that takes years of training and practice to master. Appraisers utilize proven techniques to gather property data, analyze comparable data, extract adjustments and analyze market trends to provide a well-supported opinion of value. 

No, appraisers are an unbiased third party. Appraisers do not set the price or value of a property - we report what is happening in the market and give a supported opinion of value. Furthermore, Green Oak Appraisal Team is paid a flat fee and is not paid on a percentage of the sales price or value, further distancing us from having an interest in a real estate transaction. Lastly, appraisers follow The Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), which is a recognized ethical and performance standard for the appraisal profession in the United States.  USPAP Compliance is required for state-licensed and state-certified appraisers involved in federally-related real estate transactions.

Green Oak Appraisal Team serves Yellowstone County and surrounding areas.

Yes, our lead appraiser is a Certified General Appraiser licensed in the State of Montana, which means we can appraise all property types - including both commercial and residential properties.

No, licensed appraisers are the only ones qualified to give an appraisal. Real estate agents / brokers frequently offer CMAs or BPOs, but real estate agents / brokers have their own area of expertise and do not have the same obligations as an appraiser (specifically to USPAP) when giving an opinion of value. CMAs or BPOs are NOT appraisals.

No, for-sale prices are not consummated sales. Furthermore, Montana is a non-disclosure state, which means the sale price does not have to be disclosed or reported on the deed. The general public is not privy to this information, including real estate sales prices, concessions, etc., and only a licensed appraiser is qualified and has access to the necessary data to provide an appraisal.

A home inspection involves a detailed inspection of the physical condition of the property, including the foundation, siding, roof, windows, etc.  While an appraisal considers the quality and condition of these items, the appraiser‘s job is gather information about the property that would help provide an opinion of market value. A significant amount of this information is gathered at a site inspection, making it important for an appraiser to inspect the property as well.