The selection rests on a score out of 100 built from public data — Google reviews (35 pts), experience (30), credentials (15), local presence (15), bonus (5) — with no commission or advertising; each profile shows, where they exist, the credential and the register where it can be checked. Selection current as of July 1, 2026.
An appraiser estimates a property's market value for a purchase, refinancing, estate, separation or dispute — a signed report that carries weight with lenders, insurers and courts, unlike a broker's informal estimate. The professional designation is the key signal. Before retaining one, verify an active designation (AACI or CRA from the Appraisal Institute of Canada, or the provincial equivalent), experience with the property type involved, and a real footing in the local market. Payotte verifies the designation individually on the official register and recommends a single appraiser per sector of Ottawa.
Which certified appraiser should you choose in Ottawa?
Start with the certified appraiser selected in your sector: in Ottawa, Payotte lists 2, one per sector (2 of 6 sectors covered), scored 78 to 85 out of 100 from public data; then check their credential at the source (bodies and registers below).
The scores. All 2 profiles reach the 70/100 threshold and carry the Verified status. "Verified" means the profile's data was checked at its source. The score adds up Google reviews (35 pts), experience (30), credentials (15), declared local presence (15) and bonus (5), from public data and what the professional states in writing; each profile publishes the breakdown, criterion by criterion.
Where to check the credential. Body shown on the profiles: Appraisal Institute of Canada (AIC) for all 2 (a professional association, not a licence: it confirms membership). The register exists so the public can check their own professional before hiring them.
How Payotte chooses. In each sector, Payotte selects a single certified appraiser: an editorial selection made on this public-data grid, not a city-wide ranking; a higher score in another sector does not make a professional "the best" in Ottawa. No professional pays to be selected and Payotte earns no commission (selection method).
Certified appraisers near Ottawa and elsewhere in Ontario
Elsewhere in Ontario, Payotte selects 36 certified appraisers in 14 cities, one per sector. Cities are listed from nearest to farthest from Ottawa, as the crow flies.
- KingstonMichael Cotman (74/100)
- BarrieJoseph R. Danford (97/100)
- MarkhamSamier Patel, CRA (78/100)
- VaughanMushtaq Khan (77/100)
- Toronto10 certified appraisers, one per sector
- Brampton5 certified appraisers, one per sector
- Mississauga6 certified appraisers, one per sector
- St. Catharines1 certified appraiser
- Hamilton5 certified appraisers, one per sector
- GuelphKatrina Baker (81/100)
- Greater SudburyCalvin Colard (83/100)
- Waterloo1 certified appraiser
- LondonMetrix Realty Group (77/100)
- Windsor1 certified appraiser
The Ottawa real estate market
As of October 2026, the MLS benchmark price in Ottawa stood at $616,900, down 1.3% year-over-year. The average home, all property types combined, traded near $678,512. Inventory sat at roughly 4.4 months of supply, and homes took about 25.5 days to sell.
Scope: Region de la chambre OREB (National Capital Region) · OREB · Oct 2026. — Source : OREB
The other verified professionals in Ottawa
- Real Estate Broker — Ottawa 5 sectors covered
- Mortgage Broker — Ottawa 5 sectors covered
- Home Inspector — Ottawa 3 sectors covered
- Real Estate Lawyer — Ottawa 6 sectors covered
Frequently asked questions
The Ottawa real estate market
As of October 2026, the MLS benchmark price in Ottawa stood at $616,900, down 1.3% year-over-year. The average home, all property types combined, traded near $678,512. Inventory sat at roughly 4.4 months of supply, and homes took about 25.5 days to sell.
Who are the best certified appraisers in Ottawa in 2026?
Payotte publishes no absolute ranking: it selects one certified appraiser per sector, scored out of 100 from public data. In Ottawa, 2 are selected for 2026 (5 of 6 sectors covered): Andrew Wieland (Downtown Ottawa, 85/100); Wieland & Associates Inc (Westboro–Hintonburg, 78/100). Elsewhere in Ontario, 36 more in 14 cities.
When do you need a professional appraiser?
Your lender orders the appraisal for a financed purchase itself. You need your own appraiser for an estate, a division after separation, an assessment appeal, a dispute or a sale between relatives: it is the only report that holds up in court or with the tax authorities.
Appraisal or inspection: what is the difference?
The appraiser sets the market VALUE from comparable sales; the inspector examines the CONDITION of the building. One does not replace the other: a careful purchase needs both.
How is the Ottawa certified appraiser selected?
Payotte applies an independent 100-point scoring protocol: Google reviews (35 pts), total experience (30 pts), professional title verifiable at the regulator's or body's register (15 pts), declared local presence (15 pts), and verifiable bonus (5 pts). No commission, no advertising. The licence number is published so you can check it yourself at the regulator's register.
Does Payotte earn a commission?
No. Payotte is a free, independent, ad-free service. No commission is earned and no professional pays to be selected.
How much does a property appraisal cost?
Published figures for a residential appraisal (financing or market value) range from $150 to $600 depending on the source and year: Ratehub cites $150–$500, Nesto $300–$500 (March 2025), WOWA $300–$600 (August 2025) and CMHC $250–$350. Sources genuinely diverge, so Payotte reports the spread rather than a blended number.
When the appraisal is ordered for a mortgage, the borrower usually pays the fee — but the appraiser's client is the lender (Appraisal Institute of Canada).
Sources: WOWA — Closing costs calculator (Aug 2025) · AIC — For property owners