In the video, Attorney Philip Hundl explains the confusion that might arise from differences between the offer amount in the final offer packet and the amount in the appraisal.
Summary of the Blackfin Pipeline Update and Understanding Your Final Offer Packet and Appraisal
Hi, Phil Hundl here. I want to bring you an update on the Blackfin Pipeline project that stretches from Colorado County, through Waller and Montgomery County, and then down into Liberty County. If you are a landowner affected by this pipeline project, you probably have an attorney by now. If you don’t, it’s likely because you’re either waiting for the final offer letter or packet.
There are various stages of the Blackfin project currently. Some landowners have not yet received their initial offers due to delays in surveying or the need for additional surveys by Blackfin. So, if you’re one of those landowners still waiting on your initial offer after some surveying has been done, it’s probably because they are trying to finalize their route.
Others have recently received the final offer packet and have become very alarmed. I want to focus on the amounts being offered, from the initial to the final offer packet, and then the appraisal.
How and Why the Final Offer Packet May Differ from the Appraisal
Often, the initial offer letter contains a number, and the final offer packet will be one of three things: lower than the initial offer, the same as the initial offer, or slightly higher. What we’re seeing is that the final offer amount is usually the same as or slightly more than the initial offer. However, the appraisal valuation on the front page of that final offer letter will be much lower than the final offer amount, causing confusion among many landowners about whether the offer has decreased.
I see this often and don’t know if it’s a strategy of the condemnors, but it’s a way for them to convey that their appraiser believes compensation should be lower, even though they are offering more than that amount.
Logically, the condemnor might think that the landowner would accept that amount. My advice is to discuss your situation and your final offer packet with an attorney who specializes in eminent domain and condemnation proceedings for landowners. They can help you understand their compensation calculations, value your property appropriately, and assess the impact of the easement on your property. Not all properties or easements are the same, since temporary access roads and surface sites, might cause the easement to differ significantly from a simple easement tract.
Hopefully, this video will help clarify some potential misunderstandings when receiving these final offer packets. As always, good luck and if you have any questions, talk to a lawyer who handles these kinds of cases. They can help you be better informed about the process, your rights, and their obligations.
Get the Help You Need
Don’t try to represent yourself if your land is being condemned for a pipeline or other purpose. Your attorney can help you navigate through the process and help you achieve the best possible result. Call Philip Hundl at 800-266-4870 or text 979-320-9320 for an appointment. Meetings can be in person at our Wharton County office or online or by phone.
Related Links
- Blackfin Project Update – Right of Way Agents Demanding Access to Your Property
- Blackfin Pipeline Project – What Landowners Need to Know
- Blackfin Pipeline Using TROs to Access Land
- Understanding Key Elements of the Initial Offer Letter
- Understanding the Appraisal in Condemnation Proeceedings
- Step 3 of the Texas Condemnation Process
Call 800-266-4870 or text 979-320-9320 for an appointment. We can also arrange for online and telephone appointments all over Texas.