Lilo Geiger Wert-and real estate appraiser

A property’s value usually becomes important when a decision is pending. A purchase or sale, an inheritance, a divorce, a legal dispute, or a tax issue can suddenly turn a rough estimate into a figure that must be reliable. Asking prices and a sense of the market are not enough for this. What is crucial is an appraisal that takes into account the specific property, its legal status, the market, and the specific reason for the appraisal.

Lilo Geiger is a publicly appointed and sworn real estate appraiser with the Bayreuth Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) and is recognized in Spain as a court-appointed expert for real estate appraisals. Through the G&G Appraisal Firm, she prepares appraisals throughout Spain. In doing so, she combines German valuation standards with in-depth knowledge of Spanish building law and the unique characteristics of the Spanish real estate market.

Real Estate Appraisals for Purchases, Sales, Inheritance, and Court Proceedings

What is a property actually worth? The answer does not depend solely on square meters and location. Building regulations, the lot, the condition of the building, market conditions, and the specific purpose of the appraisal can significantly influence the result.

A professional real estate appraisal therefore provides a transparent basis when property is bought, sold, inherited, or transferred. An independent appraisal can also be crucial in cases of divorce, legal disputes, or tax matters.

Our range of services includes real estate appraisals and expert reports, as well as recognized court-admitted expert opinions and appraisals for German and Spanish tax authorities.

Check Properties Before Decisions Get Costly

However, when it comes to an existing property, the appraised value is only part of the bigger picture. Especially before making a purchase, it’s important to verify that the property’s actual condition, legal status, and available documentation all align.

The G&G Appraisal Office therefore also conducts legality checks and due diligence for existing properties. In addition, it handles corrections to the land registry and cadastral records, real estate inheritance matters, and provides support for the processing of purchases and sales.

This allows for the integration of valuation and appraisal in situations where real estate decisions cannot be considered in isolation. Buyers, sellers, owners, and heirs receive not just a number, but a professional foundation for their next steps.

Remaining Useful Life Appraisals for Rented Properties in Spain

For landlords, in addition to the current property value, a second figure can be of considerable importance: the building’s actual remaining useful life.

For rental properties, the building portion is taken into account for tax purposes through the depreciation deduction—AfA for short. If a shorter actual useful life can be substantiated by technical evidence, this may result in a higher annual depreciation amount. This issue may also be relevant for properties rented out in Spain if they are taken into account for German income tax purposes.

Lilo Geiger prepares remaining useful life appraisals for this purpose and has already prepared appraisals for properties in Barcelona. In doing so, she does not apply a higher depreciation rate across the board. The key factors are the specific property and the remaining useful life as determined by an expert.

Her own example illustrates just how much of a difference this can make: According to Lilo Geiger, she was able to increase the depreciation rate for her rental apartment from 2 percent to 8 percent based on the determined remaining useful life. While this result cannot be applied to other properties, it clearly illustrates the financial significance that the actual useful life can have in individual cases.

Qualifications for Real Estate Appraisals Across National Borders

When a real estate appraisal is to be used in court, by government agencies, or by tax authorities, it is not just the result that matters. Qualifications, the valuation method, and transparency are also crucial.

Lilo Geiger holds a combination of German, Spanish, and European qualifications. She is a publicly appointed and sworn expert and a certified expert (Dipl.) in the appraisal of undeveloped and developed properties, rents, and leases (DIA). In addition, she holds ISO/EN/DIN 17024 certification as a real estate appraiser (DIA-Zert), the qualification as a Perito Judicial Inmobiliario Superior de Valoraciones y Tasaciones Inmobiliarias, and recognition as a Recognized European Valuer (REV).

Particularly when it comes to real estate in Spain and issues related to Germany, this specialized approach combines two areas that often need to be considered simultaneously: the property itself and the requirements for which the appraisal will later be needed.