A guide for Allentown homeowners
What is the purpose
of a home appraisal?
A home appraisal gives you an independent opinion of what a property is worth, supported by the home’s condition, location and comparable sales.
Buying, selling or settling an estate? Start with the decision you need to make. The purpose determines the report and the date it should reflect.
01 / The purpose
A value you can use
to make a decision.
A purchase price tells you what a buyer and seller agreed to. An appraisal asks a separate question: what does the evidence support? The appraiser considers the property itself, recent sales of similar homes and the market around it.
For a lender, that opinion helps assess the property as security for a loan. For a homeowner, buyer or seller, it provides a reference point for pricing and negotiations.
An appraisal is an opinion of value, not a promise of a sale price. It helps you make an informed decision; it does not set the price someone must pay.
02 / Common reasons
The same home.
Different reasons to know its value.
For an older Allentown rowhouse, a twin or a detached home, start with the decision the report must support. Homes in Old Allentown, Old Fairgrounds and West Park can have different histories; the valuation date and purpose still need to be clear.
Buying or refinancing
A lender may use an appraisal to evaluate the home’s value for a purchase or refinance. Ask your lender about its appraisal process before ordering a report yourself.
Preparing to sell
A homeowner may order an appraisal as a starting point for an asking price, especially when the right price is difficult to judge.
Residential appraisals →Handling an estate
Handling an Allentown estate? The Lehigh County Register of Wills is a local probate resource. Ask your attorney which valuation date and report the estate needs; a later sale or family buyout may involve a different date.
Estate appraisals →Working through a divorce
A property valuation can provide a starting point for discussions about the home. Share any instructions from your attorney before the scope is agreed.
Divorce appraisals →03 / An important distinction
An appraisal and an inspection
answer different questions.
“What is it worth?”
An appraisal develops an opinion of value. The appraiser considers condition because it can affect value.
“What needs attention?”
A home inspection examines condition and identifies defects or needed repairs. An appraisal does not replace it.
04 / Your next step
Before you order, be clear
about what the report is for.
- Identify the property. Have the full address ready, along with any details about access or recent work.
- Explain the decision. Say whether the report is for a sale, estate, divorce or another purpose, and who needs to use it.
- Confirm the date and timing. The date the value reflects may differ from the inspection date. Share any deadline or instructions from the person requesting the report.
Then discuss the scope, fee and availability before scheduling. If a lender is involved, start with the lender’s instructions.