Farm Appraisals

A vital part of every real estate appraisal is the appraisers knowledge and understanding of the subject property for which he or she is performing the appraisal. This is most important in conducting rural farm appraisals in Central Pennsylvania where many of the farms are still operating as family farms.

The farm appraisal staff at Appraisal & Marketing is led by a former graduate of Penn State University with a four-year degree in Agricultural Education plus eight years of prior experience working with farm families as a Soil and Water Conservationist with the United States Department of Agriculture. He was raised on a farm in Central Pennsylvania and has over 50 years experience in farming related activities.

Conducting a farm appraisal involves a close analysis of not only the farm house but equally important are the other farm buildings and their uses, such as dairy barns, poultry houses, hog barns, veal barns, and other types of farm activities.

Another important part of farm appraisal is a study of the soils that are found on the farm. They could vary from deep, well-drained limestone soils of high productivity or to shallow, well-drained red shale soils with low productivity. Our farm appraisal staff is knowledgeable in the area of soils analysis and its impact as to the value of the farm.

Our office has done over 500 farm appraisals in the past 10 years and is recognized by lending institutions throughout the Central Susquehanna Valley.