Can this form be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are generally valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and state UETA laws. Confirm no statutory exception applies, and provide any required consumer disclosure for consumer-facing documents.

Is notarization always required?

Not always. Notarization depends on state law, lender policy, or intended use. Some jurisdictions or lenders may request a notarized signature or RON for added verification or recording.

What if the appraiser is denied access?

Document the refusal in writing and notify the ordering party immediately. Lenders may accept a restricted appraisal or require reauthorization and rescheduling, which can delay closing.

How do I revoke or cancel authorization?

Revocation should be in writing and delivered to the appraiser and ordering party. Revocation does not retroactively affect consents already relied upon during completed inspections.

Who must sign the form?

Owners or authorized occupants must sign; if a third party controls access, obtain their written permission too. Signatory authority should be documented to avoid disputes.

How long does processing take?

Processing time depends on signer responsiveness and scheduling; typical appraisal completion after authorization is often 7–10 business days, but local market conditions vary.

Electronic Signature
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Miscellaneous
Appraisal Authorization Form

Appraisal Authorization Form

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APPRAISAL AUTHORIZATION FORM

Parties

Client Name:

Client Address

Appraiser Name: Appraiser Company:

Appraiser License/ID No.: Contact Phone:

Recitals

WHEREAS, Client requires a professional appraisal of the real property described below for the purpose of determining market value and making informed lending, sale, or tax decisions; and

WHEREAS, Appraiser represents that Appraiser is duly qualified, licensed or certified where required, and possesses the experience and competency to perform the requested appraisal in accordance with applicable professional standards; and

WHEREAS, Client desires to engage Appraiser and Appraiser agrees to provide appraisal services under the terms and conditions set forth in this Authorization.

Property and Assignment Details

Property Address

Type of Appraisal: Report Delivery Format:

Scope of Work

The Appraiser shall perform a professional appraisal in accordance with the scope described below. The appraisal will include inspection (if required), analysis of comparable sales, market conditions, and preparation of a written appraisal report signed by the Appraiser.

Detailed Scope and Special Instructions

Authorization and Access

Client hereby authorizes Appraiser and Appraiser's agents to access the subject property for the purpose of inspection and appraisal, including interior and exterior examination as necessary. Client warrants that it has authority to grant such access.

Permission to Release Information to Third Parties: Yes No

Payment Terms

Fee Amount: $ Payment Due:

Payment Schedule / Instructions

Late Fee: If payment is not received within the period specified above, Client agrees to pay a late fee of of the outstanding balance, plus any costs of collection.

Term and Termination

This Authorization commences on and shall terminate on unless earlier terminated as provided herein.

Either party may terminate this Authorization for convenience upon written notice to the other party delivered at least prior to the effective termination date. Termination shall not relieve Client of liability for fees and expenses incurred prior to termination.

Confidentiality

The parties agree that information provided to Appraiser and the resulting appraisal report are confidential. Appraiser shall not disclose confidential information except as required by law, court order, or to Appraiser's professional advisors, and shall use reasonable measures to protect such information. Client acknowledges that delivery of the report to third parties may be permitted as required by applicable professional and legal obligations.

Liability and Indemnity

Appraiser's liability to Client for any claim arising out of or relating to this Authorization shall be limited to direct damages not to exceed the total fees paid under this Authorization, except to the extent prohibited by law. Client shall indemnify and hold Appraiser harmless from third-party claims arising from Client's breach of this Authorization or Client's provision of inaccurate property information.

Governing Law

This Authorization shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state where the subject property is located, without regard to conflicts of law principles.

Notices

Notice Address for Client Notice Address for Appraiser

Entire Agreement

This Authorization, including any attachments and incorporated schedules, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior negotiations, understandings, and agreements. Any amendment must be in writing and signed by both parties.

Acknowledgement and Certification

By signing below, Client authorizes the Appraiser to perform the appraisal as described herein, certifies that the information provided to Appraiser is true and accurate to the best of Client's knowledge, and agrees to pay the fees in accordance with this Authorization. Appraiser certifies that the appraisal will be performed in a professional manner consistent with applicable appraisal standards.

Client (Printed Name):

By:

Date:

Title or Authority (if signing for an entity):

Appraiser (Printed Name):

By:

Date:

License/Certification No.:

What the Appraisal Authorization Form Is and When it’s Used

An Appraisal Authorization Form is a written consent that allows an appraiser to inspect property, obtain access to interior and exterior areas, review records, and disclose appraisal findings to specified parties. It typically identifies the property, the appraiser or appraisal firm, the party ordering the appraisal, and any access conditions. Lenders, brokers, homeowners, and buyers use it during valuation, loan underwriting, estate settlement, or divorce proceedings. Electronic execution is generally permitted under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and state UETA laws, subject to limited statutory exceptions.

Why an Appraisal Authorization Form Matters

The form documents permission for site access and information sharing, reduces liability for appraisers and owners, and creates an auditable record for lenders and underwriters.

Who Typically Completes or Signs This Form

Use this form when an appraiser needs explicit permission to inspect a property or receive nonpublic records.

Mortgage lenders and loan officers — Authorize appraisal access and designate report recipients for underwriting and secondary market delivery.
Property owners and occupants — Provide consent for interior inspections, keyholder contact details, and any access restrictions.
Certified appraisers and appraisal firms — Accept authorization terms, confirm scope, and note limiting conditions before inspection.

Having the correct signers and contact details speeds scheduling and reduces the chance of delayed appraisal delivery.

Typical Signer Roles and Responsibilities

Mortgage Officer

Orders the appraisal, provides recipient instructions, and confirms appraisal must meet lender guidelines; responsible for ensuring borrower authorization is collected and retained per loan file requirements.

Property Owner

Grants access and shares keys or codes, discloses known defects or safety issues, and signs permission for appraiser entry and record release; mismatched or missing owner signatures can delay valuation and closing.

Step-by-Step: Complete and Execute the Appraisal Authorization Form

Follow these steps in order to prepare, authorize, and deliver the form efficiently.

01

Prepare Form: Confirm correct property description and party names before filling fields.
02

Add Instructions: State interior access permissions and any safety or COVID-related restrictions.
03

Sign and Date: Have all required signers execute and date the document in the designated places.
04

Distribute: Send completed form to the appraiser, lender, and retain a copy in the loan or property file.

Typical Submission Workflow for Electronic Completion

An electronic workflow speeds scheduling and creates a tamper-evident audit trail when properly configured.

Upload Document: Import the PDF or DOCX form into your eSignature platform or document manager.
Place Fields: Add signature, date, and text fields where parties must complete information.
Send to Signer: Deliver via email link or SMS with clear signer order and authentication controls.
Store Final: Save the signed PDF and certificate of completion to the loan or property record.

Key Settings to Configure for Online Completion

Configure these workflow settings to ensure secure, auditable, and compliant e-signing of appraisal authorizations.

Field	Configuration
Signer Authentication	Email+SMS code or KBA depending on risk
Signing Order	Sequential or parallel routing per lender policy
Reminders	Automated email reminders at configured intervals
Storage Location	Secure cloud folder with audit logs

Technical and Integration Considerations

Ensure the platform supports required authentication, audit trails, and the file formats you use before sending documents for signature.

Authentication Options: Email, SMS code, KBA
File Formats: PDF, DOCX, HTML
Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Microsoft 365

Essential Elements Included in a Professional Appraisal Authorization

A well-crafted form protects parties and clarifies the appraisal engagement, access rules, and distribution rights.

Property Identification

Full street address plus legal description or parcel number to ensure the appraiser inspects the correct property and to prevent recording or identification errors during underwriting.

Scope and Limitations

Clear statements about interior access permissions, excluded spaces, and any conditions affecting inspection to avoid incomplete valuations or conditional appraiser certifications.

Authorized Recipients

Named parties who may receive the appraisal report (lender, broker, attorney), which addresses privacy and redistribution concerns and ensures proper delivery for underwriting.

Data Releases

Explicit consent to obtain records such as prior appraisals, repair invoices, or HOA documents when needed for valuation and market analysis.

Signatures and Dates

Signature blocks for owners, occupants, and ordering parties with dates to establish consent timing and to support chain-of-custody in the loan file.

Limiting Conditions

Optional clauses noting safety hazards, restricted access, or known defects that could affect appraisal conclusions and qualify the appraiser's report.

Security and Compliance Features to Look For

Encryption in Transit: TLS 1.2/1.3

Encryption at Rest: AES-256

Audit Trail: Timestamped action log

HIPAA Support: BAA available

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II

Accessibility: WCAG 2.0 AA

Common Errors That Cause Delays or Rejection

Using informal or nicknames instead of the legal owner name, which causes matching failures with title reports and lender records and delays underwriting.
Incomplete property description or missing unit number in multiunit buildings, resulting in misdirected appraisals or partial inspections that require rework.
Failing to state interior access permissions or leaving the appraiser without keys, which often produces a drive-by appraisal or conditional value statement.
Skipping notarization or witness requirements where state or lender policy requires them, causing lenders to reject the appraisal package.

Consequences of an Incorrect or Incomplete Authorization

Loan Delay: Closing may be postponed

Invalid Appraisal: Report may be unusable

Legal Exposure: Potential liability for trespass claims

Regulatory Risk: Noncompliance with lender rules

Recordkeeping Gaps: Audit trail deficiencies

Extra Costs: Rescheduling or notary fees

Typical Timeframes and Expectations

Timelines vary by market and lender; use these common milestones to plan scheduling and follow-up.

Request Timing:

Order authorization when loan application is submitted; faster scheduling improves turnaround.

Appraisal Completion:

Local typical turnaround is 7–10 business days after site access is granted.

Lender Review:

Underwriting review generally completes within 1–3 business days after report delivery.

Dispute Window:

Request clarifications or reconsiderations within the lender’s stated timeframe, often 5–10 business days.

Document Retention:

Keep executed authorization per retention policies noted below.

Key Processing Milestones from Request to File

A sequential view of the main stages helps assign responsibilities and predict completion dates.

01

Order Placement

Lender or broker requests appraisal and sends authorization to owner.

02

Scheduling

Appraiser coordinates access after receiving the signed form.

03

Inspection

On-site inspection occurs within scheduled window and scope limits.

04

Report Delivery

Final appraisal delivered to authorized recipients and stored in the loan file.

eSignature Pricing and Feature Snapshot for Appraisal Authorizations

Compare common pricing and feature criteria when selecting an eSignature provider for authorizations and appraisal workflows.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies
Bulk Send	Yes (Business Premium)	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies	Varies	Varies

Real-World Examples of Appraisal Authorization Use

These short examples show practical outcomes when the form is used consistently in workflows.

Optica Ventures LLC

A national investor needed consistent access permissions across portfolios to schedule appraisals quickly

The authorization standardized access rules across properties
Standardization reduced scheduling friction and ensured appraisers received timely authorizations for every inspection, improving turnaround.

Martin Properties

A small management firm required tenant and owner signatures before appraisals to avoid disputes

Clear signed permissions allowed interior inspections without on-site owner presence
This practice minimized missed appointments and reduced re-inspections, saving hours per property.

Practical Tips for Smooth, Accurate Completion

Follow these best practices to minimize errors, speed approvals, and maintain compliant records.

Confirm Legal Names and Addresses

Verify owner names against title or ID documents and enter full property addresses including unit numbers. Accurate identification prevents underwriting mismatches and title issues.

Specify Access and Restrictions

List permitted inspection areas, times, and any safety cautions. If keys or alarm codes are required, include secure delivery instructions to avoid no-shows.

Use Secure eSignature Settings

Select appropriate signer authentication and enable audit trails. For consumer-facing transactions, ensure ESIGN consumer disclosures are provided when required.

Retain Executed Copies

Store a signed PDF and the eSignature certificate of completion with the loan or property record for the recommended retention period to support audits and claims.

How an Appraisal Authorization Differs from Similar Documents

Compare purpose, parties, and formalities to avoid using the wrong form for a transaction.

Criteria	Appraisal Authorization	Purchase Agreement
Purpose	authorize access	transfer property
When Used	valuation phase	contract phase
Signatories	owner/occupant	buyer and seller
Notarization	sometimes required	sometimes required

Frequently Asked Questions About the Appraisal Authorization Form

Answers to common questions about validity, electronic signing, notarization, and what to do if access is refused.

Need help? Contact support

Can this form be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are generally valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and state UETA laws. Confirm no statutory exception applies, and provide any required consumer disclosure for consumer-facing documents.
Is notarization always required?
Not always. Notarization depends on state law, lender policy, or intended use. Some jurisdictions or lenders may request a notarized signature or RON for added verification or recording.
What if the appraiser is denied access?
Document the refusal in writing and notify the ordering party immediately. Lenders may accept a restricted appraisal or require reauthorization and rescheduling, which can delay closing.
How do I revoke or cancel authorization?
Revocation should be in writing and delivered to the appraiser and ordering party. Revocation does not retroactively affect consents already relied upon during completed inspections.
Who must sign the form?
Owners or authorized occupants must sign; if a third party controls access, obtain their written permission too. Signatory authority should be documented to avoid disputes.
How long does processing take?
Processing time depends on signer responsiveness and scheduling; typical appraisal completion after authorization is often 7–10 business days, but local market conditions vary.

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