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Serious question, my appraisal in Austin came in $40k under what the online estimate said
I was set to pull cash out for a kitchen reno based on a Zillow number, but the real appraiser saw some foundation issues I missed. Now my loan terms are way different and I have to rethink the whole project. Has anyone else had a big gap between an online estimate and the actual appraisal?
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kelly.daniel4d ago
My buddy in Phoenix had the exact same thing happen last year, a $35k gap because the online estimate didn't account for his old polybutylene plumbing. It feels like those automated estimates just smooth over all the real problems a house can have, you know? They're good for a general vibe but never the full story.
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umaanderson4d ago
Ugh, that's so true! My cousin bought a place that looked perfect online, but the inspection found a cracked heat exchanger in the furnace. The online tool just said "HVAC system present" and gave a generic replacement cost for a normal unit. The real fix was way more because of the asbestos wrapping they had to deal with safely. Those sites totally miss the scary, expensive stuff hiding behind the walls. It's like they only see the pretty surface. How did your buddy end up handling that huge plumbing bill?
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