Updated August 17, 2026. General appraisal information only; not legal, tax, lending, engineering or accounting advice.
Define the buyer's decision
Private sales, custom homes, acreage, waterfront and family transactions may benefit from analysis before the buyer becomes fully committed. State the intended use so the assignment addresses the actual decision.
A privately ordered report is different from a lender appraisal. A mortgage lender may need to order a separate report through its own independence process.
Order before deadlines remove options
Allow time for inspection, market research and discussion before a contingency expires. A rushed appraisal after the buyer has surrendered contract options cannot restore them.
Coordinate timing with counsel and real estate professionals, while keeping contract advice separate from the appraiser's role.
Provide the complete property package
Share listing information, contract when available, survey, plans, improvements and details about acreage, water rights, accessory units and outbuildings.
For a private transaction, disclose relationships and unusual terms that may affect whether the sale reflects open-market behavior.
Separate value from condition risk
An appraisal is not a home inspection, engineering study, environmental assessment, septic test or title search. A property can support a price and still have serious defects.
Keep specialized due diligence in place and provide material findings when they change observable condition, utility or legal use.
Read the evidence, not only the number
Review comparable selection, adjustments, market conditions and reconciliation. Unique homes often produce a range of evidence rather than one obvious match.
The report is tied to its client, intended use, date and condition. It is not a permanent certificate or automatically transferable to a lender.
Planning checklist
- State the purchase decision
- Confirm client and intended users
- Schedule before contingency deadlines
- Provide listing and contract
- Provide survey and improvement data
- Identify unusual property features
- Keep inspections in place
- Disclose private-sale relationships
- Review reconciliation
- Confirm report-use limits
Send the address, intended use, effective date and unusual property features so the assignment can be reviewed before scheduling.
Request an AppraisalFrequently asked questions
Will the seller accept the appraisal?
That is a negotiation decision. The report provides evidence but does not control either party.
Can my lender use it?
Usually the lender must order its own appraisal. Ask before assuming transferability.
Is it the same as a home inspection?
No. The appraisal addresses value; inspectors and specialists evaluate other risks.
Which properties benefit most?
Private sales, custom homes, waterfront, acreage and properties with few obvious comparable sales often justify independent analysis.