ABOUT RIKRLAND VALUATION SERVICES Alaska's Premier Commercial Real Estate Appraisal Firm
Why Choose Rikrland Valuation Services?
Rikrland Valuation Services, LLC is Alaska’s most credentialed commercial real estate appraisal firm, providing expert MAI and ASA-designated valuations throughout Alaska and nationwide since 2015.
Led by Lydia W. Larson, MAI, AI-GRS, ASA, GAA, MNAA – the only practicing appraiser in Alaska holding both MAI and ASA designations, and currently the only Alaskan appraiser with both top Appraisal Institute designations (MAI & AI-GRS). With 23+ years of Alaska commercial real estate appraisal experience, Lydia brings unparalleled expertise to every assignment.
Our corporate headquarters are strategically located in Soldotna on the Kenai Peninsula, positioning us to efficiently serve clients from Ketchikan to Barrow, and from Anchorage to Nome, while maintaining the capability to provide appraisal review services nationwide.
Senior-level attention on every assignment. As a lean, partner-led organization, every appraisal receives direct oversight from Alaska’s most qualified commercial appraiser – not junior staff or trainees.
Professional Real Estate Appraisal Services Throughout Alaska and Beyond
Rikrland Valuation Services, LLC was founded in 2015 on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula with a clear mission: to provide Alaskans and clients nationwide with access to the highest-caliber commercial real estate appraisal expertise. Our name, derived from old Norwegian meaning “the great land,” reflects our deep connection to Alaska—a state often called by that very name.
Our Story
The foundation of Rikrland Valuation Services began years before its official establishment. Senior Appraising Partner Lydia W. Larson’s journey into real estate appraisal started in 2004, following her graduation from the University of Alaska Anchorage with a degree in Economics. After transferring from UNC Greensboro where she studied International Studies, Lydia interned with the Alaska Department of Revenue and Alaska Growth Capital before beginning her appraisal career under the mentorship of Diane Blacksmith, MAI. Through three iterations of that appraisal firm, and over a decade of rigorous training and professional development, Lydia developed expertise in Alaska’s most complex commercial real estate valuations.
In 2015, Lydia and founding partner Phil Larson established Rikrland Valuation Services with corporate offices in Soldotna, Alaska. This location was a deliberate choice. While offers came from institutions across the country—including complimentary office space in Fairbanks and opportunities in Seattle, Portland, and Anchorage—we chose to base our operations on the Kenai Peninsula to better serve Alaskans statewide while maintaining the flexibility to provide services nationally.
Our Expertise
Lydia W. Larson holds five of the industry’s most prestigious professional designations: MAI and AI-GRS from the Appraisal Institute, ASA from the American Society of Appraisers, GAA from the National Association of Realtors, and MNAA from the National Association of Appraisers. This combination of credentials represents the highest level of professional achievement in real estate appraisal and positions Lydia as one of the most qualified commercial appraisers in Alaska.
Rikrland Valuation Services specializes in complex, unconventional properties that require sophisticated analytical approaches. Our portfolio includes landmark properties such as the Great Alaska Lumberjack Show in Ketchikan, the Anchorage City Hall, and numerous airport facilities throughout the state. We provide expertise across diverse property categories, including medical facilities, retail centers, industrial properties, multifamily housing, hospitality assets, and specialized-use properties. Our work extends from high-end residential estates along the Kenai River to remote village housing in Alaska’s bush communities.
Our geographic service area encompasses all of Alaska, with particular concentration in South Central Alaska, including the Kenai Peninsula, Mat-Su Valley, and Anchorage. We have successfully completed assignments in communities from Homer to Fairbanks, and from Dutch Harbor to Southeast Alaska’s Inside Passage.
Our Approach
For years, Alaskans faced a critical shortage of qualified appraisers willing to tackle the state’s unique challenges. Property owners were often forced to accept substandard appraisal services simply because few alternatives existed. Rikrland Valuation Services was established to address this deficiency by bringing the highest professional standards to Alaska’s real estate valuation needs.
We recognize that our clients frequently engage us during the most challenging periods of their lives—estate settlements where families struggle to reach consensus, divorce proceedings that require impartial valuations, or lending disputes in which prior appraisals have proven inadequate or inaccurate. In these sensitive situations, we serve as an independent, unbiased third party committed to delivering credible, defensible valuations that withstand scrutiny.
Our role extends beyond technical valuation. We help clients understand what occurred in their appraisal process, identify where previous work may have fallen short, and provide the difficult truths necessary to resolve complex real estate problems. Whether through fee appraisals, appraisal reviews, litigation support, or expert witness testimony, our goal remains consistent: to make difficult situations less difficult through professional excellence and unwavering integrity.
National Reach, Alaska Commitment
While headquartered on the Kenai Peninsula, our expertise extends well beyond Alaska’s borders. Lydia’s AI-GRS designation as a review specialist has led to appraisal review assignments throughout the United States, including work in Texas, New Hampshire, and nearly every state permitting remote appraisal reviews. This national perspective enriches our understanding of real estate markets while reinforcing our commitment to Alaska.
Our Structure
Rikrland Valuation Services operates as a lean, efficient organization led by two senior partners. Lydia W. Larson serves as Senior Appraising Partner, bringing technical appraisal expertise to every assignment. Phil Larson serves as Senior Administrative Partner, managing contracts, negotiations, safety protocols, and business operations. This structure ensures that every appraisal receives senior-level attention from inception through delivery.
Given Alaska’s unique challenges—remote property access requiring aircraft, boats, and snow machines; extreme weather conditions; and properties unlike those found elsewhere—Phil’s role as Logistical Operations & Safety Officer proves critical to our field operations. We have successfully completed assignments in some of Alaska’s most challenging environments while maintaining impeccable safety records.
Our Commitment
Rikrland Valuation Services stands committed to elevating appraisal standards in Alaska and providing clients nationwide with access to sophisticated commercial real estate expertise. We understand that quality appraisal services are not merely technical exercises but essential tools that help individuals, families, and institutions make informed decisions about their most valuable assets.
When you engage Rikrland Valuation Services, you receive more than an appraisal report. You receive the assurance that comes from working with Alaska’s most credentialed appraisal professional, supported by a comprehensive administrative infrastructure and an unwavering commitment to professional excellence.