The Appraisal Came In $40,000 Low. Here’s What Happened Next.

There’s a version of this story where my sellers lose forty thousand dollars. Here’s why that didn’t happen.

I was the listing agent. The appraisal came in $40,000 below our contract price, and my first question wasn’t “How do we fix this?” It was “Is this appraisal actually accurate?” I didn’t think it was.

So I pulled the comps and gathered everything that supported our value. I started talking with the buyer’s agent, the lender, and the appraiser. Once I understood where everyone stood, we laid out the options: accept the reduction, challenge the appraisal, ask the buyers to bring more money to closing, or have my sellers walk away and relist.

Here’s what most people don’t realize about that moment. My job wasn’t to pick an option for my sellers. My job was to make sure every option was on the table, with the risks and consequences of each one attached. Then they decide. That’s how this is supposed to work. It’s their home and their money.

So what actually happened? The buyers came back to within five thousand dollars of the original price. My sellers accepted, and we closed.

There was a ton happening behind the scenes that nobody ever saw: the phone calls, the comp research, the back-and-forth between all parties. That’s usually where the real work gets done, and it’s a big part of why it’s worth hiring a Realtor in the first place.

If you’re buying or selling in Ames or anywhere in Story County and want somebody who’s going to dig in when things get complicated, send me a message. I’d be glad to talk it through.

Thinking about buying, selling, or building in the Ames area? Call or text me at (515) 290-7950, or email sievers@c21sre.com. Seen one of my videos? Comment MATT on it and I’ll get back to you.

Matt Sievers, REALTOR®, Sievers Real Estate Team with CENTURY 21 Signature Real Estate