"And thanks again for your outstanding product. 20 years of construction lending and you have provided so many good numbers that the transactions are beyond counting."
Dwight Thompson
Salem Five Bank
Salem, MA

"I do not get many request from underwriters to change or clarify any content in any appraisal reports. In the approximate 18 years I have used the Residential Cost handbook, I have never had a question concerning the cost approach, thanks there to. You can't get much better than that, 100% confidence level in the cost approach. Thank you for improving and maintaining my Q&A."
Clinton L. Varner

"The Residential Cost handbook is a great product! I have served on the FHA Panel, and have found it useful and helpful both in that capacity and in my own business. It's easy to use and enables me to prepare accurate estimates quickly."
Linda Lang Sealock
Lang Appraisal Service, LLC
Fort Royal, VA

"All of our accounts want us to use Marshall & Swift and we never have any questions regarding our cost figures."
Dave Smith
Master Appraisers
York, PA

"The true test of a cost estimate guide is how well it compares to actual cost. I have been pleased with how close the Marshall &Swift residential cost estimate have come to actual building cost in our area."
Dennis Williamson
Professional Appraisals
Litheton, IL

"As a New Appraiser I find the Marshall & Swift Res. Cost Approach Handbook to be invaluable. The home photo group helped me determine the type & quality of a residence. Plus the detail in the book - being able to break out, add in or take away certain elements of a home really helps me determine a true "cost" approach!"
Chris Duran
Duran Appraisals LLC
Ashland OR

"It is known in the appraisal industry to be a reliable source of estimating replacement costs and I use and rely on the Marshall & Swift Cost Handbook daily in my appraisal business. It is easy and accurate."
Sean M. Dandurand
Dandurand Appraisals
Bourbonnais, IL

"With the time I save using the Residential Cost Handbook I can provide my clients with a faster turn time on their reports. This makes the mortgage broker very happy."
Mathew G. Cook
Apex Appraisals
Hope Mills, NC

"Since the sales comparison approach to value is the weakest comparison of value we rely on the Cost Approach more than they would in Hawaii or Mainland."
James L. McGuire
Blue Pacific Management Corp.
Pago Pago, American Samoa

"I use the cost manual on all of my residential appraisals. I find it to be a very good reference and the data is consistent with my local contractors."
Brett Findlay
Appraisal Source.
Umpqua, OR

"I used to use free on line calculators for this information but it was not as accurate and drew frequent questions and requests for a more accurate source of reference. When I used and cite Marshall & Swift, those questions are never an issue and my reports sail through without delay. The lenders know that if the numbers are coming from Marshall & Swift they are the most recent and the most accurate available. I recommend Marshall & Swift to all of my colleagues and require that all my trainees subscribe before I sign a single report. I tell them the service cost is less than what they'd earn on one appraisal and then you're safe for the rest of the year."
Patrick Weston
Empire Appraisal
Escondido, CA

"The Marshall & Swift Residential Cost handbook has really helped support the integrity of my Appraisal business. The Handbook serves as a way to verify my own research from local builders and developers. It has an easy-to- use layout, which makes it very efficient. The Segregated Cost method has really helped in determining the cost-to-cure of specific situtations where Physical and/or Functional Depreciation is a factor. By providing my clients with this type of comprehensive information, it gives them the confidence needed to make important decisions, knowing that the information was based on the Marshall & Swift Cost Handbook."
Cheryl Kimps-Mommaerts
Kimps-Mommaerts Appraisal, LLC
Green Bay, WI

"I use Marshall & Swift extensively in my appraisals, the use of which is an automatic creditability factor with people knowledgeable of the appraisal process. Reviewers can duplicate my cost approach values which further cements report creditability and reliability. Repeat business is the heart of my business success, and Marshall & Swift Residential Cost Handbook is a key factor in that regard. Thank you Marshall & Swift."
David Woztliak
MADD Services
Fair Oaks Ranch, TX

"The Residential Cost Handbook provides up to date supporting documentation in a rapidly changing market. The RCH allows the Appraisers in our office to effectively communicate value discrepancies in new construction appraisals with the underwriters."
Chad Johnson
Hunter Realty Success
Manchester, MO

"For the small investment of time and money, the RCH gives my cost analysis authority and credibility, particularly since the new Fannie Mae forms require an appraiser to cite his/her source as well as the effective date of the cost data."
Dan M. Hollenberg
Hollenberg Appraisals
Modoc, IN

"As a new appraiser, I really rely on Marshall & Swift to complete my cost approach. All the information is easy to find which makes assembling the stats quick and and reliable every time. Thank you for your valuable product."
Wendy Hsieh
Next Day Appraisals
Colorado Springs CO

"While I am experienced and can come up with an opinion of my own in my capacity on the Board of Assessors, Town of Otis, Massachusetts, Marshall & Swift products provide me with an excellent second professional opinion."
Lee Marcella
Board of Assessors
Otis, Massachusetts

"Since all my lenders require the cost approach on their appraisals, I use the Marshall & Swift cost data every day. The segregrated cost section helps me to figure replacements when I am working on a report for a property in need of major repairs or on a construction loan appraisal for a builder. The Marshall & Swift data combined with input from local contractors ensures that the cost sections of my reports and the cost to cure information I give my lenders are both accurate and up to date."
Margot Ferguson
Ferguson Appraisal Service
Kansas City, MO

"Marshall & Swift's Residential Cost Handbook makes us better appraisers! And if we finish an excellent product we keep the clients we want. We do the Cost Approach before we do the Sales Comparison Approach in our office. I was trained that way, and I train my appraisers the same way. Then, if the approaches are "far off" we know something isn't right. We do not view the Cost Approach as lines on the form we fill in after we are done with the appraisal. I take issue with the popular idea ( I even see it in appraisal textbooks) that the Cost Approach is not relevant if the property improvements are over ten years old. That statement indicates lack of knowledge in performing the Cost Approach and lack of knowledge of the appraisal process. The Cost Approach is completely relevant.

... I teach appraisal procedures and 'turn pages' showing the newbies how they can use the pictures plus decriptions to help them determine the quality level of the improvements. Then I lead them through the Cost Approach and explain determining the level of depreciation and use of the tables. I also point out the usefulness of the special studies photos in determining property age. Then I show them how to use the segregated cost tables and life expectancy guidelines to do Operating Income Statements. By this time they are fascinated with the Book - apparently many appraisals office do not have Marshall & Swift - and come up to look through it at breaktime. I probably sell a lot of books for you!

The Cost Approach is so interwoven with the rest of the report and value approaches that it is difficult to say where one starts and stops in my thinking. It starts on the front page with my Description of Improvements and quality, condition ratings with Sales Comparison Approach. Cost may not equal value, but, knowing the cost is valuable in seeing the market reaction to an item, whether it is a swimming pool, fireplace or new roof. And, of course, for income properties. Marshall & Swift has what an appraiser needs to do a professional Operating Income Statement with replacement reserves.

We do the Cost Approach always, even when the lender does not require it. First, we do it because we want to do the best job possible on the appraisal. But, I'm also hearing that appraisers who don't do the Cost Approach on the new form are getting "call backs" to do so. Even if the original lender did not require it, a lender they sold the loan to wants to see it. Long live the Cost Approach."
Terry K. Clark
Terry Clark & Associates
Dallas TX

"Since my training days, I have always used Marshall & Swift and will continue to do so for many years to come. The Residential Cost Handbook is the most useful tool I have ever used – I couldn’t do my reports without it."
Kirk Riffe
Mountaineer Appraisals
Ikes Fork, WV

"Marshall and Swift has been invaluable to me in my appraisal career, not only in assisting me determine value, but also to help assess quality. The Residential Cost Handbook is truly one of the great products of our time."
Mark Hicks
Licensed Appraiser
Urbandale Appraisal Ltd.
Bemidji, MN

"The Residential Cost Handbook has been an invaluable tool to my business. Even if I’m not typically applying the cost approach to value, the handbook helps my lesser-experience appraisers to recognize quality differences between constructions. The product has even helped to increase my overall productivity as it allows me to be more decisive in my responses and commentary. Keep up the good work."
Anthony M. Kanaris
Anthony M. Kanaris & Associates, Inc.
Spring Hill, FL

"The residential data product helps simplify our day to day tasks for completing an appraisal. We never have to worry about anyone questioning our data source, since we obtain all of the costs right from the Handbook. The information in the handbook is very detailed and easy to find. We use the cost approach when requested by our lenders, for new construction and for complex properties."
Derrick Robinson
Black Mountain Appraisals
Las Vegas, NV

"I use Marshall & Swift extensively in my appraisals, the use of which is an automatic credibility factor with people knowledgeable of the appraisal process. Reviewers can duplicate my cost approach values which further cements report credibility and reliability. Repeat business is the heart of my business success, and Marshall & Swift's Residential Cost Handbook is a key factor in that regard. Thank you Marshall & Swift."
David Woznizk
MADD Services
Fair Oaks Ranch, TX

"I use the Residential Cost handbook any time I do an Appraisal Cost Approach. I also refer often to this book when deciding a value for a barn, fence, pool and other amentities not easily priced using the comparsion approach. I find the Residential Cost Handbook is easy to navigate and full of useful information to a residential appraiser."
Beverly Alloway
Jacobs Vanaman Inc.
Coshocton, OH

"I have been using Marshall & Swift cost data in my efforts to appraise the correct cost for a building in dispute with Alpine County in CA. Because of the unique nature of the structure, your products have proven invaluable in our efforts. We have been unable to have any of the local appraisers agree on a figure and most have not even bothered to try as there are no "comps" to establish value, it is new construction and there is no preexisting market price on the building itself. Your Residential Cost Handbook and the Swift Estimator have been invaluable.
John Richmond, CEO
Conch Flyer, Inc.
Key West, FL