One of the first things that Penn DOT will do when they approach a landowner in an eminent domain case is say that they, themselves, have commissioned an appraisal that has set the value of the property, and that the landowner should settle for that amount.
But in most eminent domain cases, the landowner will want to hire their OWN qualified, licensed, appraiser to determine the true value of their property. As the saying goes, “appraising properties is an art not a science” and it is critical to not just take Penn DOT’s word on value. For something this important, you need a truly independent valuation.
You might be wondering, aren’t appraisers expensive? They can be, but the good news is that the Eminent Domain code provides up to $4,000 for you to hire an appraiser in your case. For the vast majority of takings, that amount is more than enough to cover the cost.
We work closely with many qualified appraisers and will help you find one that will match the needs of your specific case. So don’t take Penn DOT’s word for it, get your own appraisal…and have Penn DOT pay for it!
