Do not sign anything immediately
A Notice of Condemnation is a legal document that begins a formal taking of your property. The condemning authority — a state agency, utility, or municipality — will almost always attach an initial offer of just compensation. That offer is a starting position, not a fair number.
Nothing in the notice requires you to accept the offer or execute a right-of-entry within days. You have the right to obtain an independent appraisal and to be represented by counsel before any binding decision.
Calendar the response deadlines
South Carolina condemnation practice is deadline-driven. Missing a response window can waive your right to a jury trial on valuation. From the day the notice is served, calendar every date referenced in the paperwork and forward a copy to your attorney the same week.
Get an independent appraisal
The condemning authority's appraisal is prepared to justify the offer. An independent appraisal analyzes highest-and-best use, severance damages to the remainder, and consequential losses that agency appraisals routinely omit. In most cases we recommend an appraiser with courtroom experience, not simply a residential valuator.
Preserve every communication
Save the envelope, keep the offer letter, and log every phone call from a right-of-way agent. Written records are frequently decisive when valuation disputes reach a hearing.