valuation

physical deterioration

Physical deterioration is a loss in value caused by wear and tear, aging, weather, or neglect of a building's components. It may be curable, when the repair costs no more than the value it adds, such as new paint or carpet, or incurable, when correcting it is not economically sensible, such as a worn-out foundation. It is one of three types of depreciation used in the cost approach.

Exam tip
Three types of depreciation: physical deterioration, functional obsolescence, and external obsolescence. Only external obsolescence is always incurable.
Example
A 20-year-old roof with leaks reduces a home's value; replacing it for $10,000 would cure the physical deterioration.

Related terms & state variants

Sources

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Last verified: 2026-10-23