General Consulting

Real estate consulting from certified appraisers

Most property decisions come down to one question: what is this worth, and what should be done with it? We answer that for real estate consulting agents, homeowners and investors, drawing on in-depth market analysis, rigorous financial analysis and extensive valuation experience.

Tell us about the property

A no-cost first call with a certified appraiser. We usually reply the same business day.

What we advise on

Consulting assignments are scoped around your question rather than a report format. These are the ones we take on most often across residential, commercial and investment property.

Market analysis and pricing strategy

Where the market actually sits for your property type and neighbourhood, and what that means for a list price or an offer. Verified comparable sales and current absorption data, read from the appraisal side of the transaction rather than the sales side.

Pre-listing and pre-purchase consultation

An independent read on value before you commit. For sellers, what the property will realistically support and which improvements return their cost. For buyers, whether the asking price is defensible and how an appraiser is likely to see it.

Investment and portfolio analysis

Financial analysis and risk assessment on individual acquisitions or an existing portfolio: income, expenses, cap rate, exit assumptions and the property valuation risks that get overlooked when a deal is moving quickly.

Feasibility studies

Does the project work at today’s costs and today’s values? We test the numbers on a proposed development, addition, ADU or conversion before you spend on design and entitlement.

Highest and best use analysis

The use that produces the greatest value, tested against what is physically possible, legally permissible and financially feasible. Frequently the difference between a site worth holding and a site worth selling.

Land use and entitlement consulting

How zoning, density, entitlement status and rebuilding restrictions affect value. Useful before you buy a site, and essential when you are deciding what to do with one you already own.

Consulting or a full appraisal?

People often ask for an appraisal when what they need is an hour of analysis, and occasionally the reverse. The difference matters, because one costs a fraction of the other and only one of them is admissible.

Consulting is the right call when

You are deciding whether to list, buy, hold or develop
You want a value range and the reasoning, not a formal report
You need to test a project's numbers before spending on design
You are weighing several properties and need them compared
Speed and cost matter more than formal documentation

A full appraisal is the right call when

A lender, court, insurer or the IRS will read it
You need a signed opinion of value prepared to USPAP standards
The figure may be challenged and has to be defensible
You are filing a tax appeal or an insurance claim
The matter is in litigation or heading there

We will tell you which one you need on the first call, including when the answer is that you do not need us yet. Consulting work can be converted into a full appraisal later if the situation changes.

Who we consult for

Agents, their clients, homeowners and investors, each asking a different version of the same question.

Real estate agents and brokers

Market analysis and pricing support so you can walk into a listing appointment with appraisal-grade evidence, plus a second opinion on how the property will appraise once it is in escrow.

Homeowners

Guidance on buying, selling or improving, including detailed market analysis and property valuation, with support through the transaction from first consultation to closing.

Investors

Financial analysis and risk assessment to evaluate a potential acquisition or review an existing portfolio, so decisions rest on tested numbers rather than a broker's projection.

Developers, attorneys and CPAs

Feasibility, highest and best use and land use analysis on projects and disputed matters, delivered in a form your client or your file can use.

What clients say

From the agents, owners and investors who bring us their decisions.

I was ready to list $200,000 above what the data supported. One consultation saved me three months of sitting on the market and a price cut in public.

Alicia Moreno

They told me the deal did not pencil and explained exactly why. That is the most useful thing anyone said to me all quarter, and it cost me a fraction of what the mistake would have.

David Ostrowski

We were weighing an addition against selling. The feasibility work laid both options out side by side with real numbers, and the decision made itself.

Karen Tsai

How a consulting engagement works

Four steps, with the scope and the fee agreed before any work begins.

First call

Tell us the property and the decision. We define the question, confirm whether consulting is the right route, and quote a flat fee.

Research

Verified sales, listings, permits, zoning, rent and expense data, plus a site visit where the assignment calls for one.

Analysis

We model the scenarios that matter to your decision and stress test the assumptions that would change the answer.

Findings and discussion

A written summary plus a call to work through it. You get the conclusion and the reasoning behind it, not just a number.

Where we advise

Seven counties across Southern California, with the deepest data and the longest track record across Los Angeles County.

Real estate consulting questions

The questions that come up most on a first call.

What is real estate appraisal consulting?

It is valuation analysis delivered as advice rather than as a formal report. We research the market, analyse the property and give you a value range with the reasoning behind it, so you can decide whether to list, buy, hold, improve or develop. It costs considerably less than a full appraisal and takes less time, because it is not prepared as a signed document for a third party.

How is consulting different from a full appraisal?

An appraisal is a signed opinion of value prepared to USPAP standards for a third party such as a lender, court, insurer or tax authority. Consulting is analysis prepared for you, to support a decision. If your figure needs to be defended by someone other than yourself, you need the appraisal. If you need to know what to do, consulting is usually faster and cheaper.

Can I use a consulting report for a loan, court case or tax appeal?

No. Those uses require a formal appraisal report. If your matter is heading that way we will say so on the first call, and consulting work already done can usually be applied toward the appraisal rather than repeated.

What is a highest and best use analysis?

It identifies the use of a property that produces the greatest value, tested against four criteria: what is physically possible, what is legally permissible under current zoning and entitlements, what is financially feasible, and what is maximally productive. Owners commonly discover that the existing use is not the most valuable one.

What does a feasibility study involve?

We test whether a proposed project works financially before you commit to it. That means projected value on completion, current construction and soft costs, timeline, absorption and the margin left over, plus the assumptions that would erase that margin if they moved against you.

How much does a consultation cost?

The first call is free. Beyond that we quote a flat fee for each assignment once the scope is clear, and you will have the figure before any work begins. Fees are never contingent on the conclusion we reach.

How long does it take?

A pricing or pre-listing consultation is often turned around within a few business days. Feasibility studies, land use analysis and portfolio work take longer depending on scope. Tell us your deadline on the first call and we will confirm whether it is achievable before you engage us.

Do you work with real estate agents on listings?

Regularly. Agents use us for market analysis and pricing support before a listing appointment, and for an independent view of how a property is likely to appraise once it is in escrow. Because we do not take a commission, our analysis carries weight with sellers that in-house comparables sometimes do not.

Which areas do you cover?

Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, Santa Barbara, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties, with the heaviest concentration across the Westside, the San Fernando Valley, Pasadena and the South Bay.

Make the decision with the numbers in front of you

One call, no cost, no obligation. You will speak with a certified appraiser who has worked this market for over two decades, not a call centre.

At our appraisal services firm, we offer a range of services to assist real estate agents, their clients, homeowners, and investors in making informed decisions about their real estate investments. Our team of experienced appraisers has a deep understanding of the real estate market and can provide valuable insights and analysis to help our clients achieve their goals.

For real estate agents, we offer consulting services to assist with market analysis, pricing strategies and more. Our team can provide valuable insights into market trends and conditions, as well as help agents the property from the appraisal perspective.

For homeowners, we offer consulting services to assist with buying, selling, or investing in real estate. Our team can provide detailed market analysis, property valuations, and other information to help clients make informed decisions about their real estate investments. We can also provide guidance and support throughout the entire transaction process, from initial consultation to closing.

For investors, we offer consulting services to assist with real estate investment decisions. Our team can provide detailed financial analysis, risk assessment, and other information to help investors evaluate potential investments and make informed decisions about their portfolios.

In addition to these core services, we also offer a range of other consulting services, including Feasibility Studies, Highest and Best Use Analysis and Land Use Consulting. Our team has years of experience in the industry and a deep understanding of the latest trends and best practices, ensuring that our clients receive the highest level of service and quality.

At our firm, we are committed to providing our clients with the insights and analysis they need to make informed decisions about their real estate investments. Contact us today to learn more about our consulting services and how we can assist you with your real estate decision-making needs.