Our Story
Get to Know Us
Richards Appraisal is more than just a family business — it’s built on trust, long-lasting relationships, and genuine care for every client who walks through our door. Many of the people we worked with in our first decade are still with us today, and they’ve kindly recommended us to their friends and colleagues. Growing up right here on the Space Coast, we feel deeply connected to this community, and there’s no one better equipped or more passionate about handling your appraisal needs.
With over 30 years of serving happy clients and building a strong local reputation, you can count on us to deliver an appraisal you can truly rely on.
As time moves on and the older generation gradually steps back, we’re proud to pass the torch to the next chapter. Sarah has been mentoring Isabel, and Tom has been guiding Allison — together, they carry forward not only years of experience but also a heartfelt love for what we do. It’s a new era for Richards Appraisal, and we’re excited to watch the hard work and care we’ve poured into this business continue to grow and serve our community.
OUR TEAM
SARAH RICHARDS
lives in Melbourne, FL (1993-current)
Certified Residential Appraiser RD2789
Formal Education
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA (May 1990)
Real Estate and Appraisal Education
Real Estate and Appraisal Education
Appraising for the VA - Nov 2022 – McKissock Appraisal School
The Fundamentals of Appraising Luxury Homes –Nov 2022 – McKissock Appraisal School
Residential Property Measurements and ANXI Z765- Nov 2022 – McKissock Appraisal School
The FHA Handbook 4000.1- Nov 2022 – McKissock Appraisal School
USPAP & Florida Laws & Regulations – Nov 2022 – McKissock Appraisal School
USPAP & Florida Laws & Regulations – Oct 2020 – McKissock Appraisal School
Supervisor –Trainee Course – Oct 2020– McKissock Appraisal School
Appraisal Institute – Education at Annual Conference July 2018
Emerging Issues and Making Appraising Great Again March 2017- Allterra Group LLC
The New FHA Handbook 4000.1– Oct 2016 – McKissock Appraisal School
The Nuts and Bolts of Green Appraisers Oct 2016 McKissock Appraisal School
Reviewer Checklist June 2014 – McKissock Appraisal School
Foreclosures and Short Sales - November 2012 – Real Estate Education Specialists
2-4 Family and Income Properties - November 2012 – Real Estate Education Specialists
CVR – Collateral Valuation Report Specialist Training – April 2011 – Appraisal World Inc.
Introduction to Expert Witness - October 2010 – McKissock Appraisal School
Mortgage Fraud – Protect Yourself - October 2010 - McKissock Appraisal School
The Dirty Dozen – October 2010 - McKissock Appraisal School
Business Practices and Ethics - October 2009 - The Appraisal Institute
FHA Appraiser Training - September 2007 - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Residential Sales Comparison and Income Approach - September 2007 - The Appraisal Institute
Appraising From Blueprints and Specifications- August 2006 - The Appraisal Institute
FHA and The Appraisal Process - August 2006 - The Appraisal Institute
Residential Design & Functional Utility – November 2004 - The Appraisal Institute
Introduction of Historic Valuation – July 2000 - Valuation 2000 Conference
E-Relay TM; Electronic Conference for Relocation Appraisers – Valuation 2000
Fannie Mae REO Workshop – Valuation 2000
Rural Residential Valuation Part 1 & 2 – Valuation 2000 Conference
Appraising High Value & Historic Homes (Ace 1898) – May 2000 - The Appraisal Institute
FHA Appraisal Overview – October 1999
Alternative Residential Reporting Forms – May 1997 - The Appraisal Institute
Certified Residential Appraisal Courses (AB I, AB II, AB IIb) 1993-1996
Builder Seminar on Construction - August 1994 - Melbourne Area Association of Realtors
Challenged coursework and exams for 110 Appraisal Principles and 120 Appraisal Procedures
September 1997 – Appraisal Institute
Professional Designations, Licenses, and Affiliations
State Certified Residential Appraiser RD 2789, State of Florida
Department of Veteran Affairs Fee Appraiser #5000536
Qualified Expert Witness in Brevard County
Member of the Space Coast Association of Realtors & National Association of Realtors since 1994
Real Estate Broker – License BK 598406 since 2005
Served on Grievance Committee – Melbourne Area Association of Realtors 1994
FHA Certification since 1999
Real Estate Appraisal Experience
Owner and Appraiser with Richards Appraisal Service, Inc. Melbourne, FL (October 1993-Present) Real Estate Broker/Owner Richards Real Estate, March 2005
Property Types Appraised
Waterfront Properties
Historic Homes
Condominiums
Residential Properties
Expert Witness
Vacant Land
Manufactured Homes
Proposed Construction
Relocation Properties
Retrospective Appraisals
Foreclosure Appraisal Review
Insurable Value
Formal Education
Bachelor of Business Administration; Major – Real Estate Florida
Atlantic University 1985
Real Estate and Appraisal Education
Principles of Real Estate
Residential and Income Property Appraisal
Real Estate Finance
Real Estate Law
Urban and Regional Economics
Introduction to Appraising Real Property - Society of Real Estate
Appraisers (SREA 101)
Principles of Income Property Appraising - Society of Real Estate
Appraisers (SREA 201)
Real Estate Appraisal Principles - American Institute of Real Estate
Appraisers (AIREA 1A-1)
Basic Valuation Procedures - American Institute of Real Estate
Appraisers (AIREA1A-2)
Capitalization Theories and Techniques, Part A- American Institute
of Real Estate Appraisers (AIREA 1B-1)
Valuation Analysis and Report Writing - American Institute of
Real Estate Appraisers (AIREA 2-2)
Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice - American Institute
of Real Estate Appraisers (AIREA SPP)
Advanced Applications - The Appraisal Institute (AI-550)
Appraisal Practices for Litigation- The Appraisal Institute
Condemnation; Advanced Topics- The Appraisal Institute (AI 720)
Conservation Easements Course-The Appraisal Institute
Requirements of UASFLA-The ‘Yellow Book’-ASFMRA
Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisition – Yellow Book – The
Appraisal Institute
Professional Designations, Licenses, and Affiliations
Member of the Appraisal Institute MAI#10,335
State Certified General Appraiser RZ 574
General Appraiser Instructor GA 1000036
Member - East Florida Chapter of the Appraisal Institute
Past Board of Directors-East Fla. Chapter of the Appraisal Institute
Real Estate Appraisal Experience
Owner – Richards Appraisal Service, Inc., Melbourne, Florida, October 1993-Present
Staff Appraiser – Callaway & Price Inc., Fort Pierce, Florida, August 1988-
September 1993.
Staff Appraiser – W.H. Benson & Company, Melbourne, Florida, February 1986-
May 1988
Staff Appraiser – Hanson Appraisal Service, Melbourne, Florida, June 1985-
February 1986
Research Assistant and Staff Appraiser – Ross Realty & Appraisal, Inc.,
Boca Raton, Florida, March 1984-June 1985
Property Types Appraised
Acreage
Apartment Complexes
Automobile Dealerships
Agricultural Properties
Citrus Groves
Commercial Buildings
Condemnation/Eminent Domain
Condominium Projects, units
Conservation Easements
Convenience Stores
Day Care Centers
Duplexes
Easements
Environmentally Sensitive Lands
Feasibility Studies
Golf Courses
Gasoline/Convenience Stores
Hotels
Industrial Properties
Insurable Land
Leasehold Interests
Market Studies
Marinas
Medical offices
Mobile Home Parks
Mobile Homes
Nursing Homes
'Oceanfront Properties
Planned Unit Developments
Retail Buildings
Retirement Homes
Riverfront Properties
Shopping Centers
Special Purpose Properties
Subdivisions
Vacant Lots
Warehouse Buildings
ISABEL RICHARDS
Born and Raised in Melbourne, FL
Certified Residential Appraiser RD9069
Formal Education
Bachelor of Science in Advertising - University of Florida
Real Estate and Appraisal Education
Basic Appraisal Principles, October 2022, Appraisal Institute
Basic Appraisal Procedures, April 2023, Appraisal Institute
2020-2021 15-Hour Equivalent USPAP Course, August 2023, Appraisal Institute
FL Trainee Appraisal Subject Matter Electives, November 2023, McKissock Appraisal School
Supervisor-Trainee Course for Florida, September 2023, McKissock Appraisal School
Residential Market Analysis and Highest & Best Use, October 2024, McKissock Appraisal School
Residential Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach, October 2024, McKissock Appraisal School
Florida Appraisal Laws and Regulations, November 2024, McKissock Appraisal School 2024-2025
7-Hour National USPAP Update Course, November 2024, McKissock Appraisal School
Residential Sales Comparison and Income Approaches, December 2024, McKissock Appraisal School
Residential Report Writing and Case Studies, December 2024, McKissock Appraisal School
Statistics, Modeling and Finance, January 2025, McKissock Appraisal School
Advanced Residential Applications and Case Studies, January 2025, McKissock Appraisal School
Experience
Personal and Administrative Office Assistant to Sarah Richards, State Certified Residential Appraiser RD2789 at Richards Appraisal Service, August 2023 - November 2024
Registered Trainee Appraiser RI25912, November 2024 - May 2025 at Richards Appraisal Service under Sarah Richards, State Certified Residential Appraiser RD2789. Assisting in over 3,000 hours of appraisal work.
Property Types Appraised
Single Family Homes, Waterfront Properties, Historic Homes, Condominiums, Small Residential Properties, Vacant Land Manufactured Homes, Proposed Construction, Relocation Properties Retrospective Appraisals, Foreclosure Appraisals, Appraisal Review, Rent Schedule
Formal Education
University of Central Florida
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Real Estate
Real Estate and Appraisal Education
Fundamentals of Real Estate
Real Estate Law
Commercial Real Estate Finance
Real Estate Appraisal and Valuation
Real Estate Development
Residential Real Estate Finance
Advanced Topics in Real Estate
Real Estate Investment Analysis
Basic Appraisal Principles – Appraisal Institute
15 Hour Equivalent USPAP – Appraisal Institute
Professional Designations, Licenses, and Affiliations
CREW Orlando Student Member
Appraisal Institute East Florida Chapter Student Affiliate
Registered Trainee Appraiser RI26042
Real Estate Appraisal Experience
Richards Appraisal Service Researcher/Assistant March 2020- May 2022
Pinel & Carpenter Researcher April 2023-April 2024
Richards Appraisal Service Researcher/Assistant May 2024-January 2025
Trainee February 2025-Present
Property Types Appraised
Vacant Land
Strip Retail Centers
Office Buildings