Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Your Trusted Real Estate Appraisal Experts in San Rafael
Semple Appraisals has been delivering professional real estate valuation services since 1962, establishing itself as a trusted name in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our family-owned business combines decades of industry experience with rigorous adherence to the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and the Appraisal Institute's Code of Professional Ethics. We specialize in residential and commercial appraisals for diverse purposes including loans, estates, gifting, and eminent domain cases. Our team of certified appraisers holds designations from the Appraisal Institute and maintains active licenses with the California Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers. With three generations of appraisal expertise, we serve clients across eight Bay Area counties from our Marin County headquarters.Our services extend to property tax assessments, fractional interest valuations, and expert witness testimony for legal proceedings. We maintain strong professional relationships with attorneys, accountants, and financial institutions requiring precise valuation analysis. Our commitment to accuracy and impartiality has sustained our reputation through decades of real estate market fluctuations. We approach each appraisal assignment with methodical analysis and transparent reporting tailored to client needs. Our long-standing presence in the industry reflects our dedication to maintaining the highest standards of professional practice.
Services
Residential Appraisals
Commercial Appraisals
Estate Planning
Eminent Domain
Consultation Services
Tax Assessment
Fractional Interest Valuation
Expert Witness Testimony
Details
- Year established: 1962
Highlights and features
- Family-owned since 1962 with three generations of appraisal expertise
- Certified General and Residential Appraisers with California licensing
- Serve eight Bay Area counties including Marin, Sonoma, and Napa
- Specialize in complex valuations for legal, tax, and financial purposes
- Appraisers designated by the Appraisal Institute (MAI and SRA credentials)
Associations and certifications
- Appraisal Institute
- California Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers
- Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP)
Services
Residential Appraisals
We provide certified residential property valuations meeting USPAP standards for single-family homes and multi-residential units. Our appraisals support mortgage lending, estate planning, and property tax assessments. Clients receive detailed reports documenting market analysis, comparable sales, and property condition assessments.
Commercial Appraisals
Our commercial property valuations cover industrial, retail, and office spaces with comprehensive market analysis. We assess properties for loan collateral, investment analysis, and eminent domain cases. Reports include income capitalization, cost approach, and sales comparison analyses to determine accurate market value.
Estate Planning
We conduct precise property valuations for estate planning and probate purposes with full documentation. Our appraisals help determine fair market value for inheritance tax calculations and trust distributions. We maintain strict compliance with IRS requirements for estate valuation reporting.
Eminent Domain
Our expert valuations support condemnation proceedings and right-of-way acquisitions with impartial analysis. We prepare detailed reports for property owners and government agencies involved in land takings. Our appraisers have extensive experience in partial interest valuation and relocation benefits assessment.
Consultation Services
We offer expert consultation for complex real estate valuation challenges including fractional interests and land development potential. Our services include highest and best use analysis, rent surveys, and expert witness testimony. Clients receive strategic guidance for property disputes and investment decisions.
People
Siobhan Semple Stoddard
MAI Designated Appraiser
With over 30 years of experience, Siobhan holds the MAI designation from the Appraisal Institute and specializes in commercial and residential valuations. She provides expert analysis for complex property interests and has testified in legal proceedings.
Sheila Semple
Certified Residential Appraiser
Since joining the company in 2000, Sheila has focused on residential property valuations for tax assessment purposes. She maintains California certification for residential appraisals and works extensively with Bay Area property owners.
Mary Patricia Semple
SRA Designated Appraiser
With 35+ years in residential valuation, Patricia holds the SRA designation and has served as expert witness in property disputes. She specializes in complex residential valuations and estate planning appraisals across the Bay Area.
Questions
What types of appraisals do you provide?
We offer residential and commercial appraisals for loans, estates, gifting, eminent domain, and legal proceedings. Our services include fractional interest valuations and consultation on property development potential.
Which areas do you serve?
We operate throughout the San Francisco Bay Area covering Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Solano, San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, and Santa Clara counties.
How long have you been in business?
Semple Appraisals has provided valuation services since 1962, making us one of the Bay Area's longest-established appraisal firms with three generations of family ownership.
Are your appraisers certified?
Yes, our team includes Certified General Appraisers and Certified Residential Appraisers licensed by California. We maintain designations from the Appraisal Institute (MAI and SRA credentials).
What valuation standards do you follow?
All appraisals comply with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and the Appraisal Institute's Code of Professional Ethics for consistent, reliable valuations.
Can you assist with legal cases?
We provide expert witness testimony and detailed valuations for legal proceedings including eminent domain cases, divorce settlements, and property disputes with impartial, court-admissible reports.
