Having completed over 2,700 appraisals in the past 10 years, Betsy Pokorny and Des Moines Real Estate Services has become a trusted name for accurate, ethical, and professional valuation services. Betsy has acquired unique knowledge and valuation expertise in historic neighborhoods, vintage homes, and suburban communities.
Betsy Pokorny started Des Moines Real Estate Services in 2000 after serving as a staff appraiser at Iowa Residential Appraisal Co. She has lived in Des Moines' North of Grand community since 1989 and was involved in their original planning process that led to the area’s designated status. Her knowledge of the valuation challenges associated with neighborhood revitalization is unmatched in the appraisal community.
Betsy and Des Moines Real Estate Services maintain membership and/or affiliation with the following professional organizations:
Whatever the reason that calls for a value estimate, you should engage the services of an appraiser who is affiliated with professional organizations. Members of the Appraisal Institute are dedicated to serving the public in the highest professional manner possible and must meet stringent ethics requirements that surpass those required for state certification. Reflecting our unbiased and objective approach to real property appraisal and analysis, we are required to adhere to a strictly enforced Code of Professional Ethics and Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.
Membership in the Appraisal Institute grants us access to a nationwide network of knowledgeable peers and noted experts as well as ongoing education covering the latest industry developments.
As a homeowner, you may have reason to question the value of your home on various occasions. These may include planning to buy or sell a home, appealing your property tax assessment, seeking to eliminate payment of private mortgage insurance or undertaking a major home renovation project.
If you’re planning to sell your home, setting an appropriate listing price can help to speed the sale. An appraiser, using market data, arrives at an opinion of market value that can help you decide on a fair listing price. Similarly, when you’re shopping for a new home, a professional appraisal can tell you if you’re paying market value. Refer to our buyer and seller sections of this website for more reasons to use our appraisal services in your buying or selling transaction.
One of the most important issues involved in purchasing a property is developing an opinion of what it is worth. Armed with an appraisal analysis, you can make an informed offer to purchase your prospective home and negotiate effectively. The statistical data contained in an appraisal analysis is particularly helpful in negotiating a price.
Public real estate records used in property listings are not always accurate. Hiring an appraiser is the best way to learn of the true gross living area of the property you are considering for purchase.
Des Moines Real Estate Services has access to the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) allowing access to detailed market data that includes marketing comments about a home's updating and features, interior photos, days on market, original list price, price reductions, ratio of sales price to list price and any sales concessions that the seller paid as part of the recorded sales price. We also have "lockbox" access (similar to Realtor access) to homes that are listed for sale through the MLS.
Whether you choose to sell your home on your own or use the assistance of a real estate agent, a professional appraiser can help you make a better educated decision when determining your listing price. Unlike a real estate agent, an appraiser can provide an independent opinion of home's value because the appraisal fee is based upon effort rather than a percentage of the eventual sales price.
Proposed legislation would require additional appraisal certification/competency for homes with energy efficient features. Are these really "complex" appraisal assignments? Appraisers are already required by USPAP (Uniform Standards of Appraisal Practice) to turn down assignments in which they are not competent. The next thing you know they will be adding "green" education to our CE requirements like the mandatory "report writing" class of which I get to go attend tomorrow. I'd much rather go to a class on energy efficiency and construction than on report writing.
Nutrition Services, Inc out of Waseca, MN is looking to lease/buy a school, church, community center in the Des Moines area for a new catering business. Lord knows that schools need some revenue so please go lease/sell them a vacant Des Moines Public School! Please contact Larry Kroeger with Nutrition Services Inc 507-835-8962.
The number of residential properties nationwide with mortgages that were "underwater" at the end of 2009 rose by 3 million over year-end 2008, according to a First American CoreLogic report released Feb. 23. An additional 620,000 properties fell into negative equity in the fourth quarter alone, bringing to 11.3 million (or 24 percent) the 2009 total. That marks an uptick from the 23 percent represented by the 10.7 million underwater mortgages at the end of the third quarter, according to MSN Money.
Posted: 3/1/2010
Last week I was working with a seller on the south side of Des Moines. As part of my market analysis I measured the home to accurately calculate the square footage. The Polk County assessor's office had this home as 24 feet wide while in reality it was 34 feet wide! In this case, the factual square footage made a huge difference in the listing price of the home.
All our services and reports meet the guidelines set forth in the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).
State Certified Appraiser and Consultant
Des Moines Real Estate Services
betsy@dsmappraisal.com
phone: (515) 279-9574
fax: (515) 279-9576
Jack Hatch, State Senator
"As a state senator, I sponsored, and the legislature passed in 2008, a law requiring appraisers to be registered. As a real estate developer, I know the importance of reliable and accurate appraisals and Betsy is one appraiser I always request the banks to use or I hire her directly during my pre-development phase. There is no one I trust more."
Deb Buenting, Bankers Trust
"We have used Betsy Pokorny for numerous years as one of our approved appraisers. I personally have found her expertise in the Des Moines market to be invaluable. She understands the many different programs available through the City of Des Moines and Polk County, and is able to anticipate what values will be based on these programs. Her knowledge has been extremely useful during this rapidly changing mortgage industry. She is able to keep us informed of the many changes in the appraisal world, and also keeps us informed on what neighborhood values are doing. We are thankful to have such a detailed and knowledgeable appraiser on our approved list."
