Eminent Domain apprisals on a form

[larryhaskell]

I've been asked by a county to do several appraisals on properties for eminent domain purposes. The portions of the parcels will not be taken but an easement will be created. The question came up in the discussion about utilizing the land form or completing a narrative report. Has anyone used the form for this purpose? Every one I've done I used the narrative reporting format. All of the property owners are willing to give the easement to the county but there are some disagreements on the amount of compensation. What say the experts.

 

[Pittsburgh Pete]

For Penndot and local eminent domain purposes we use the approved Penndot forms--on those occasions that we have worked for a claimant, we employ a narrative format. Forms require so much additional verbiage to make them understood that it's much easier to use a narrative. We tend to follow the format of the forms so as to not miss any relevant factors.

P.S. While I try not to bust anyone's chops about spelling, misspelling a thread title is disconcerting and a wee bit annoying.

 

[Walter Kirk]

I know of no published form that would be proper for easement valuation. I wish I had one.

 

[Pittsburgh Pete]

I know of no published form that would be proper for easement valuation. I wish I had one.

Not a published form although available to appraisers working for the state. I was trying to upload it for you but couldn't--kept getting a file error.

I would assume all states have their own forms used for eminent domain purposes--form is also used for local LPA projects as well. Just have to know where to look or whom to ask!

 

[Mountain Man]

Our state DOT has specific narrative formats. One is a short form for easy properties that will be a friendly taking, and one long one for commercial properties and unfriendly takes.

 

[Pittsburgh Pete]

Technically the PA forms are a narrative format--not a bunch of boxes to check but rather questions or sections that must be narratively addressed. There is no FNMA form equivalent for condemnation. PA has three separate forms: one for partial acquisitions (strip takes, easements, etc. where there are no severance damages); one for "before/after" situations; one for total takes. Forms are used for all property types--residential, commercial, industrial.

 

[Louis Pompeo]

Years ago, I used to do strip takings and corridor easements for the county on their forms.
Didn't have/see any problems with it.

As long as you feel you are providing credible conclusions, I would say you're fine.

 

[Pittsburgh Pete]

Currently wrapping up some strip takes (mostly involving slope easements and temporary construction easements) in a ratty part of our County for a new bridge. Properties are so limited that I've had two parcels with damages of $15 and $13--County pays a minimum of $500 nonetheless. Land values are in the vicinity of $0.12/SF--marginal former industrial area where foreclosures and sheriff sales abound. Interesting but tedious work.

 

[Mark K]

The majority of my work is R/W. The depth of the report format depends on the client's needs. If the funding is all local money, I have report formats that are narrative but only 3 or so pages long plus addenda that satisfy several local towns and their attorneys.

The short narratives contain very brief descriptions and the minimum required for USPAP. The work file has most of the info that is generally applicable to the entire project. The first report and data collection takes quite a few hours but after that, about 2-3 hours each. Once you create a brief template, the narrative is easy to complete. My comps are in a small grid that I paste into each report. Additionally, I paste in a small Excel grid that has the land improvements.

I think you could use a form but you'd end up with a short narrative as addenda. I tried it a few times and went back to just the short narrative.

If there is state or federal money involved, state/fed guidelines apply.

 

[BobfromSalem]

Narratives- no forms

Been doing a lot of condemnation work this year. Too much to explain to use a form, particularly when considering what parcels are included in the Larger Parcel.