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    Income Approach

    Reserves for Replacement

    An annual allowance set aside from income to fund the periodic replacement of short-lived building components such as roof, HVAC, appliances, carpet, and exterior paint.

    Reserves for replacement smooth out the financial impact of large capital expenditures that occur irregularly. For example, if a roof costs $15,000 and has a 30-year life, the annual reserve would be $500. This approach converts irregular capital costs into an annual operating expense for income analysis purposes. The appraiser estimates reserves based on the remaining useful life and replacement cost of each component. Typical residential reserves range from $250 to $750 per unit per year depending on the age, condition, and quality of the property.

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