Appraisal guidance
Residential Appraisal Guidance for Idaho, Washington and Montana
Assignment scope, effective dates, inspections, and property-specific considerations for residential appraisal work.
Assignment basics
Define the appraisal before ordering
The intended use, intended users, property, effective date, and delivery requirements determine the appropriate scope and report.
From inquiry to delivery
How the appraisal process works
Discuss the assignment
Share the property address, why you need an appraisal, and your preferred timing.
Confirm the scope
We confirm the intended use, valuation date, property access, fee, and delivery schedule.
Inspect and analyze
We inspect the property when required and research comparable sales and other relevant market evidence.
Receive the report
We deliver the appraisal report and answer questions about the findings.
Assignment types
Residential appraisal topics
Open a topic for scope considerations and the related service page.
Estate, trust and retrospective appraisals
Historical assignments require a defined effective date and reliable period-specific property and market evidence. Review estate and retrospective appraisal services.
Divorce and litigation appraisals
The engagement identifies the property interest, intended users, intended use, effective date, and reporting requirements. The appraisal addresses value, not legal ownership or allocation. Review divorce and litigation appraisal services.
Pre-listing and pre-purchase appraisals
An independent appraisal can analyze condition, site, view, acreage, waterfront influence, and the relevant market segment before a private decision. Review pre-listing and pre-purchase services.
Lender, REO and appraisal review services
Institutional work follows the authorized client’s assignment conditions, report requirements, effective date, and communication channel. Review lender, REO and appraisal review services.
Bankruptcy, tax and asset valuations
Appraisals can support bankruptcy matters, tax-related reporting, asset management, and property-tax assessment review. We define the purpose and valuation date before engagement. Review bankruptcy, tax and asset valuation services.
Waterfront, rural and complex property
Analysis may address shoreline, access, acreage, utilities, outbuildings, views, custom construction, and limited comparable sales. Review complex-property appraisal services.
Vacant land and diminution in value
The scope may require analysis of highest and best use, property rights, access, utilities, zoning, environmental influences, or a defined before-and-after question. Review land and diminution appraisal services.
Property information
Inspection and document preparation
Access for an appraisal inspection
Before the property visit, we will confirm arrangements to view the home, garages, outbuildings, and relevant site features.
Documents that may assist the analysis
Surveys, plans, permits, leases, easements, improvement records, and other property-specific documents may be relevant when available.
Features to identify before engagement
Share acreage, access limitations, utilities, water rights, outbuildings, additions, deferred maintenance, unusual design, or other characteristics that may affect scope and timing.
This is general educational information, not an appraisal, legal advice, tax advice, or a conclusion about a specific property.
Request assignment-specific guidance
Provide the property, intended use, effective date, timing, and known unusual characteristics.
Request an appraisal quote