Plain answers to appraisal questions
Practical guides for Manitoba homeowners, buyers, executors and lenders, written by the appraisers at Burley Appraisals.
What Is a Real Estate Appraisal? A Manitoba Guide
What an appraisal is, who orders one, what the appraiser actually does, and how the value in your report is reached, explained for Manitoba homeowners.
Read the articleAppraisal vs. Property Assessment in Manitoba: Why the Numbers Differ
Your assessment notice and your appraisal often show different values. Here is why, and which one matters for a sale, a mortgage or an estate.
Appraisal vs. Realtor's Market Analysis: What's the Difference?
A comparative market analysis and an appraisal both look at recent sales, but they serve different purposes and carry different weight. Here's how to know which you need.
What Happens During a Home Appraisal Inspection?
A step-by-step look at what an appraiser does on site, how long it takes, what they measure and photograph, and what they are really looking for.
How Appraisers Choose Comparable Sales
Comparable sales drive most home appraisals. Here's how appraisers pick them, why the closest sale isn't always the best one, and how adjustments work.
How to Prepare Your Home for an Appraisal: A Practical Checklist
You can't change your home's market value overnight, but you can make sure the appraiser sees everything that supports it. Here's what actually helps.
Which Renovations Add the Most Value to a Manitoba Home?
Renovations rarely return their full cost, but some matter far more to buyers than others. An appraiser's view of where your money goes furthest in Manitoba.
How Appraisers Measure Square Footage (and Why Listings Differ)
Why the square footage in your appraisal may not match the listing, how above-grade and basement space are treated, and how split-levels and condos are measured.
Condo Appraisals: Fees, Parking, Building Factors and What Really Matters
Condo values depend on far more than square footage. Here's what appraisers weigh when they appraise a condominium unit in Winnipeg, Steinbach or Winkler.
Secondary Suites and Rental Income: How They Affect Your Appraisal
Basement suites and rental income can add value, but how much depends on legality, quality and the local market. What homeowners and investors should know.
What to Do If Your Appraisal Comes In Low
A low appraisal can stall a purchase or refinance. Here's why it happens, what your options are, and how to ask for a review the right way.
What Lenders Look For in an Appraisal
Why lenders order appraisals, what they check in the report, and the property issues that can delay or complicate mortgage approval.
Refinancing in Manitoba: How the Appraisal Affects Your Equity Takeout
When you refinance, the appraisal sets how much equity you can access. How lenders calculate it, what affects the value, and how to prepare.
Buying or Selling Privately? Why an Appraisal Protects Both Sides
Private sales and family transfers save on commissions, but without a realtor the price can be a guess. An independent appraisal sets a fair, defensible value.
Should You Get an Appraisal Before Listing Your Home?
A pre-listing appraisal can help you price confidently, avoid surprises from a buyer's lender and spot issues early. When it's worth it, and when it isn't.
Buying a New Build? Why the Appraisal May Not Match the Builder's Price
New construction in Winnipeg, Steinbach and the Pembina Valley is popular, but builder pricing and appraised value don't always line up. Here's why.
Estate Appraisals in Manitoba: Getting a Date-of-Death Value
Executors often need a home's value as of the date of death. How retrospective appraisals work, why they matter for tax and fairness, and how to order one.
Home Appraisals During Separation and Divorce in Manitoba
When a couple separates, the family home is often the biggest asset to divide. How an independent appraisal helps, which date to use, and what to expect.
Capital Gains, Change of Use and Why an Appraisal Helps
Turning a home into a rental, moving into a rental, or transferring property to family can raise tax questions. Why a documented market value matters.
Appraising Acreages: Wells, Septic Systems and Outbuildings
Acreage appraisals involve far more than the house. How appraisers handle water, wastewater, shops, land and the shortage of comparable sales in rural Manitoba.
Farm Residence Appraisals: How Much Land Gets Appraised?
When a home sits on a working farm, defining what is being appraised is the first and most important step. How appraisers handle yard sites, farmland and lender limits.
Appraising Homes in Small Towns When There Are Few Sales
In towns like Altona, Manitou or Plum Coulee, only a handful of homes may sell each year. How appraisers find reliable evidence, and what homeowners should expect.
Flood Risk and Home Values in the Red River Valley
From riverbank lots in Winnipeg to ring-diked towns south of the city, flood history shapes how buyers see property. How appraisers account for it.
Winnipeg's Clay Soil, Foundations and Your Home's Value
Winnipeg sits on heavy clay that moves with moisture and frost. How foundation issues and repairs affect appraisals, and what buyers and sellers should know.
Does a Manitoba Winter Affect Your Home Appraisal?
Snow covers roofs, yards and septic fields, and fewer homes sell in January. How season affects appraisal inspections and values in Manitoba.
Appraising Side-by-Sides and Duplexes in Manitoba
Side-by-sides are a staple of Steinbach, Winkler and Winnipeg's suburbs. How title type, shared walls, condo status and rental demand affect their appraisal.