Real estate appraisal services for homeowners throughout Northern Illinois

Here are the top seven reasons why Illinois homeowners hire Zim Appraisals:

Find the right listing price (whether you're using an agent or selling the home on your own)
Challenge property tax assessments
Remove PMI to reduce a mortgage payment
To reinstate their Home Equity Line of Credit (or HELOC)
Review another appraiser's report for verification
If real estate property needs to be divided because of a divorce
Settle an estate in Illinois by determining the true market value of a property


	Own a home in or near Shannon, Illinois and need help determining the value of it? Contact Zim Appraisals.

We at Zim Appraisals understand the unique needs of a homeowner in need of appraisal services. While our typical business clients understand the appraisal process and standard reporting formats, you as a consumer will get extra customer service in the form of an explanation of the process and even special consumer-friendly reporting forms if the assignment allows for them.

Pre-listing Services/For Sale by Owner (FSBO)

It's very hard to be objective about your home because of your emotional attachment to it. The professional appraisers at Zim Appraisals will tell you what you need to know -- not just what you want to hear. We are objective. In addition to helping you set a realistic price to sell at so your house will attract interested buyers, a professional appraisal is very valuable as a negotiating tool once you have an attainable buyer. The appraisal is something concrete to show the buyer. An appraisal is an independent third party's opinion of your house's value -- not just you saying how much you think your home is worth. Potential buyers know you have an emotional attachment to your home and will be far more likely to give credibility to an accomplished appraiser's value assessment than yours.

Challenging a property tax assessment

Let's say your home is not appreciating as much as other properties close by -- your local tax assessor may have your home overvalued. This only means you're paying higher taxes than you should be paying. The sooner you take care of a matter like this, the better off you'll be, since your property assessment may likely go up again in the next period. Getting an appraisal from Zim Appraisals is your #1 weapon when contesting your property tax assessment.

Appraisals to remove PMI

Getting the PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance) canceled from your mortgage loan is a fashionable way to save money for homeowners. Once your mortgage loan amount is down below 80% of the value of your house, in most cases you can apply to a lender to have the PMI removed from your loan, which will make your monthly payments go down. We are experienced in helping folks just like you abolish unwanted and unneeded PMI insurance.

Was your HELOC recently frozen?

Even if your specific property has not declined in value, your lender may just decide to automatically freeze your home equity line of credit (HELOC) if your house is in or near a declining area. Not only can this be disadvantageous from a cash flow angle, but it can be damaging to your credit score since it may appear as though that credit line is maxed out. An expert appraisal from Zim Appraisals can help you reinstate your HELOC.

Field and Desktop Appraisal Review Services

Do you need a veteran appraiser to double-check your appraisal for precision, or do you need a second opinion without the added expense and delay of waiting for a whole new appraisal? In a field review we will go out and check the subject and comparables in question. Or, if you're in a rush, we can provide desk review and verify as many facts as we can, using online data sources as well as our own files.

Do you need a retrospective review of an appraisal? We can help with that too. While typically requested by banks, you may wish to utilize this service if you suspect mortgage fraud related to your home.