A certified appraiser provides an independent, defensible estimate of a property’s value — used for financing, purchase decisions, estate settlements, separations, or disputes. Unlike an agent’s pricing opinion, an appraisal is a formal, evidence-based valuation produced to professional standards. Payotte lists one verified appraiser per sector across Canada, selected on objective public criteria, so you start from a credentialed name rather than an unscreened search.
Top-rated verified certified appraisers in Canada
The highest-scoring verified certified appraisers across all sectors — each with a full verified profile.
- 1 Pat Del Sordo, AACI, P.App. East Hamilton, Hamilton 99
- 2 Brad Daviss, P.App, AACI — Frost & Associates Realty Services Inc. (Edmonton) South Edmonton, Edmonton 97
- 3 Brad Daviss, P.App, AACI — Frost & Associates (Edmonton; areas served include St. Albert) St. Albert Area, Edmonton 97
- 4 Pat Del Sordo, AACI, P.App. Downtown Hamilton, Hamilton 91
- 5 Pat Del Sordo, AACI, P.App. West Hamilton, Hamilton 91
- 6 Andrew Wieland Downtown Ottawa, Ottawa 90
- 7 Wieland & Associates (team) Kanata–Stittsville, Ottawa 89
- 8 Cartwright Appraisals Downtown Edmonton, Edmonton 89
- 9 Wernick Omura Singh North Calgary, Calgary 89
- 10 Lawrenson Walker Appraisers Ltd. Mount Pleasant–Fraser, Vancouver 88
- 11 Michael Lau Etobicoke, Toronto 87
- 12 Aedis Appraisals Dunbar–Shaughnessy, Vancouver 87
Find your verified certified appraiser by city
Quebec
Ontario
Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
Nova Scotia
Saskatchewan
New Brunswick
What a certified appraiser does
An appraiser’s work is methodical and independent:
- Inspects the property and records its condition, size and features
- Analyzes comparable sales and relevant market data
- Produces a formal valuation report to professional standards
- Supports financing, purchase, estate, separation or litigation needs
- Remains independent of the buyer, seller and lender
How to choose a certified appraiser
The designation is what separates a professional appraisal from a casual estimate. Before retaining one, confirm:
- A recognized designation — AIC (AACI or CRA) across Canada, or OEAQ in Quebec
- Experience with your property type (for example condos vs. single-family)
- Independence from the parties to the transaction
- A clear statement of the report’s purpose and intended use
- Reasonable, confirmed turnaround for your deadline
Provincial regulators
A genuine certified appraiser holds an active licence with the regulator in their province. Confirm any licence on the regulator’s public register before you commit.
| Province | Regulator |
|---|---|
| Quebec | OEAQ |
| Ontario | AIC |
| Alberta | AIC |
| British Columbia | AIC |
| Manitoba | AIC |
| Nova Scotia | AIC |
| Saskatchewan | AIC |
| New Brunswick | — |
How Payotte scores every certified appraiser
Payotte ranks each certified appraiser out of 100 on five objective, verifiable criteria — never on advertising spend. Only the single highest-scoring verified professional is published per sector.
- 35 pts — Google reviews — rating and review volume
- 30 pts — Experience in years
- 15 pts — Active provincial licence
- 15 pts — Local presence in the sector
- 5 pts — Bonus — media, awards, video
Green (70+) is published normally, yellow (50–69) is published with an explanation, and below 50 the sector is left empty rather than recommend an unverified profile.
Certified Appraisers verified on Payotte
Payotte currently lists 125 verified certified appraisers across 125 sectors in 52 cities — 71 rated green and 54 yellow. Coverage expands as new sectors are verified.
Frequently asked questions
How is an appraisal different from an agent’s valuation?
An appraisal is a formal, independent valuation produced to professional standards and documented in a report. An agent’s pricing opinion is a useful but informal estimate, usually tied to winning or marketing a listing.
What designation should an appraiser hold?
Across Canada, look for the Appraisal Institute of Canada designations — AACI (for all property types) or CRA (for residential). In Quebec, the OEAQ governs chartered appraisers. The designation is the key verification.
When do I need a certified appraiser?
Common cases include securing or refinancing a mortgage, settling an estate, dividing assets in a separation, resolving a dispute, or making a confident purchase decision on an unusual property.
How does Payotte pick the best appraiser per sector?
Payotte scores appraisers out of 100 on Google reviews, experience, designation/licence, local presence and a bonus, and publishes the single highest-scoring verified appraiser per sector. No paid placement.
Is Payotte free for the public?
Yes. Payotte is free, ad-free and commission-free, and appraisers cannot pay to be listed or to rank higher.