By and large, appraising a long term career. Requirements to become a licensed appraiser have become more difficult than ever in the past. So it goes without question these days that real estate appraisal can unquestionably be dubbed a profession rather than a trade. In our field, as with any profession, we have a strict ethical code.
We have a lot of responsibilities as appraisers but above everything we answer to our clients. Generally, in residential practice, the lender places the order to the appraiser, becoming the appraiser’s client. Certain matters pertaining to an assignment can only be discussed with an appraiser’s client. As a a homeowner, if you would like to review the appraisal document, you generally have to obtain it from your lender. Other responsibilities also include, accurate figures appropriate to the nature of the report, attaining and keeping a certain level of competency and education, and the appraiser must conduct him or herself as a professional. Here at D. Michael Rogers, we take these ethical responsibilities very seriously.
D. Michael Rogers has an established track record for providing appraisals with the highest of ethics. To learn more Contact us.
Appraisers can often have fiduciary obligations to third parties, such as homeowners, both buyers and sellers, or others. Typically the third parties are specifically defined in the appraisal report. An appraiser’s fiduciary responsibility is restricted to those third parties who the appraiser knows, based on the scope of work or other things in the framework of the assignment.
There are also ethical standards that have nothing to do with whom we share information. For example, appraisers must keep their work files for at least five years – at D. Michael Rogers you can rest assured that we stick to that rule.
We meet or beat the industry standards and mandates set in place for ethics. We refuse to accept anything less from ourselves. Doing orders on contingency fees is not something we can consider That is, we are not able to agree to do an appraisal report and collect payment on the contingency of the loan closing. We don’t do assignments on percentage fees. That is perhaps the appraisal industries most important rule, because it would invite appraisal fraud since increasing the value of the home would raise the fee. We don’t do that. Other unethical practices may be defined by state law or professional societies that the appraiser belongs.
The Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) also states unethical behavior as the acceptance of an assignment that is contingent on “the reporting of a pre-determined result (e.g., opinion of value),” “a direction in assignment results that favors the cause of the client,” “the amount of a value opinion,” as well as other situations. We diligently follow these rules to the letter which means you can be confident we are going above and beyond to provide an unbiased determination of the home or property value.
As soon as you request an appraisal from D. Michael Rogers we’ll make sure you’re getting the professional service you expect along with the ethical handling of appraisals that we’re known for.