Paragon Appraisal Group

John was very responsive to my request for an appraisal and was able to work around my schedule. On the day of the appraisal he arrived on time and prepared. I was having work done in the yard on the same day. This did not phase John as he went through the appraisal process. He was even kind enough to take his shoes off when he came into the house so that he wouldn’t track in any of the construction dust.
I was very impressed with John’s thoroughness and attention to detail. His pictures really made my house look great and I believe, contributed to a higher appraisal. The appraisal itself was delivered a day early and was extremely detailed. I would definitely use Paragon again.

One of the best appraisers in CA hands down. Keep up the great work Paragon!!!

My wife and I were applying for a refinance and was hoping to get a fair market value appraised of our home. However, the appraiser, Lorenzo B. Gueco, had no idea what he was doing. He told us that he does not compare properties that are short-​sell or REO but he went ahead a put short sell property into the appraisal report as one of the comparisons — thank you for dragging our appraise value down! Not only that he told us that he does not compare properties that are across freeway/​lagoons but he went ahead and compare multiple properties that is in a different zip code than our house?! He skipped properties that are in our same zip code for no apparent reasons. I am totally in shock about his professionalism nor does he know what he is doing. He told me he has 10 yrs of experience but based on his this report it makes me think that he needs to go home and do his homework after wasted 10 years in the industry. What a shame to the appraiser industry and I guess it is time for them to tighten up the screws because he clearly needs to get re-​appraise himself.

John Barnes’ appraisal of the value of our home at $ 850K makes no sense to me. An excellent comp right around the corner is in process for $ 1.28 million. I know John couldn’t use that property as a comp because it hadn’t sold yet, but it was selling as ours was being appraised, and that’s a 34% difference in value. The properties are very similar — they are both simple 3-​bedrooms built around 1940 on full-​sized lots with only modest improvements. He listed two-​bedroom comps in our neighborhood selling at $ 950K — they are also original neighborhood homes on full-​sized lots with only modest improvements. He found 2 bedroom comps for less than $ 900K on much smaller lots, lots that back up to the train tracks (while the owners of those lots are scared about high-​speed rail plans and eminent domain — almost all those homes have «Not in Our Neighborhood» yard signs protesting high-​speed rail) and one lot on a busy boulevard at the edge of our neighborhood right near El Camino). We are in an ideal location in our neighborhood with a full-​size lot — couldn’t be better. Our location is even better than the place that sold for $ 1.28 with multiple offers.
I thought we needed the appraisal to come in at 900K, and I was angry that this would delay our refi, but I was wrong about that. $ 850K is good enough — so my initial anger has dissipated.
I actually really liked John and the woman who scheduled the appointment on the phone. I would like to give more stars for friendliness, but I really don’t think John did a good job with the appraisal.