Should I get a home appraisal before selling in Springfield Ohio?

Most Springfield homeowners do not need to get a home appraisal before selling, but in some cases, it can be helpful. Appraisals are usually ordered by buyers and their lenders after a home goes under contract, not by sellers. Still, for homeowners who want a verified number before listing, an appraisal can provide a professional opinion of value based on comparable sales, condition, and market data.

A professional appraisal in Springfield typically costs between $300 and $600. It can be a good option when a property is unique, hard to compare, or located in a rural part of Clark County. However, most sellers can get similar insight from a Comparative Market Analysis, or CMA, prepared by a qualified Realtor. A CMA uses many of the same comparable sales that appraisers review but is provided as part of the listing process and does not add an out-of-pocket cost.

In the Springfield Ohio market, an appraisal can make sense if the home has unusual features, custom construction, or no recent comparable sales nearby. For standard homes in established neighborhoods, a Realtor’s market analysis is often just as accurate. The key difference is that a CMA reflects active listings and pending sales in real time, while appraisals are more historical. Sellers should also consider timing—an appraisal value can expire quickly in a shifting market.

A Springfield homeowner on East High Street once requested a private appraisal before listing to confirm value on a renovated older property. The appraisal came back near the estimated range their Realtor provided. Knowing both numbers gave them confidence in their list price. The home sold within three weeks and appraised at value again during the buyer’s loan process.

Amanda Mullins with Move Smart with Amanda combines her MBA education and more than a decade of experience directing residential appraisal management operations to help Springfield sellers understand value with precision. Her CMA reports use local Springfield and Clark County data to guide pricing decisions that align with current buyer demand.

Springfield sellers who are unsure whether to order an appraisal or rely on a Realtor’s valuation can contact Move Smart with Amanda for an honest assessment of which option fits their property best.