Question
A newly relocated client tells you they want someone to 'figure out what my grandmother's house is actually worth' before they decide whether to sell it, rent it out, or renovate it as an investment. Which real estate specialty area does this specific request call for, and why isn't a sales associate automatically the right person to give that opinion?
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This is a request for an opinion of value, which is the appraisal specialty, not a sales listing request. A sales associate can prepare a CMA to help price a listing, but a formal, independent opinion of value--especially one the client may rely on for a decision beyond just listing it--calls for a state-licensed or certified appraiser working under USPAP. Recognizing which of the five specialty areas (sales, property management, appraisal, financing, development) actually fits the client's stated need, rather than defaulting to a listing conversation, is itself part of professional competence.
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