On parcels having a value of $25,000 or less, Form , rather than a formal appraisal report will be acceptable, provided the compensation does not include damages to the remaining property other than for items measurable by cost to cure. Should there be any damages that cannot be simply documented as cost to cure, a form , rather than a form

ROW-A-7 Real Estate Value Finding

, will be necessary.

The valuation process of using form

ROW-A-7 Real Estate Value Finding

is defined as a non-appraisal valuation. The property owner must be informed this method of valuation is not a formal appraisal and does not produce an appraisal report.

The form

ROW-A-7 Real Estate Value Finding

is used for waiver valuations and not an appraisal as defined by Uniform Act and, therefore, is not required to comply with appraisal standards and requirements regardless of their source (49 CFR 24.102(c)(2)). A staff appraiser, not certified by TALCB usually completes this form. In the event the staff appraiser is unable to complete the

ROW-A-7 Real Estate Value Finding

, it is permissible that a ROW PD staff representative, knowledgeable of the parcel's area and familiar with land values complete the memorandum. Waiver valuation forms are not designed for use by Department Certified Appraisers.

If the use of the

ROW-A-7 Real Estate Value Finding

is being considered to value a parcel and if the parcel to be acquired is known to be more than $10,000 in value, the owner must also approve of its use instead of an appraisal report. It is recommended that the use of this valuation process be considered and discussed during the pre-appraisal contact with the owner.

CAVEAT:

requires that, as part of the making of a bona fide offer to the property owner, a condemning authority must “before making a final offer, the entity obtains a written appraisal from a Department Certified Appraiser of the value of the property being acquired and the damages, if any, to any of the property owner's remaining property”. Since the

ROW-A-7 Real Estate Value Finding

is not an appraisal, is to be prepared by a non-Department Certified Appraiser, and assumes no remainder damages other than possible cost to cure damages, it

must not be used as the basis of any final offer

.