Is an electronic signature valid?

Yes. Electronic signatures are generally legally valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA where adopted, provided the signature shows intent, consent, attribution, and the record can be retained and reproduced.

Do reviews require notarization?

Most appraisal review forms do not require notarization. If a notarized acknowledgment is specified by contract, state law, or investor guidelines, follow those instructions or use a RON-compliant session.

Who can sign as the reviewer?

A qualified reviewer is typically a licensed or certified appraiser or an authorized QA professional; record the reviewer’s license number and qualifications for reliance.

How do I correct errors after signing?

Create an addendum or corrected review form that clearly references the original review ID, lists corrections, and is signed and dated by the reviewer and any required approvers.

How long must I keep review records?

Retain the signed review and audit trail at least as long as the loan or engagement plus applicable federal or state retention periods; follow IRS and HIPAA rules where relevant.

Can I use remote notarization for the review?

Remote online notarization is permitted in many states subject to identity-proofing and recording requirements; verify your state’s RON rules before relying on a remote notary.

Appraisal Review Form

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APPRAISAL REVIEW FORM AND SERVICES AGREEMENT

This Appraisal Review Form and Services Agreement (Agreement) documents the appraisal review performed and sets forth the contractual terms between the parties for review services.

Parties

Client Name:

Reviewer Name:

Recitals

WHEREAS, Client engaged Reviewer to perform a professional appraisal review of an appraisal report for the property identified below; and

WHEREAS, Reviewer is a qualified appraisal reviewer with experience in appraisal standards, report compliance, and valuation methodology; and

WHEREAS, the parties agree to the terms below governing the scope, deliverables, fees, confidentiality, and governing law applicable to the review engagement.

Appraisal and Assignment Details

Property Address Appraisal Report Date Appraiser Name

File Number:

Order Number:

Type of Review

Full Desk/Field Review Desk Review Limited Scope Review

Scope of Work

Reviewer will perform an independent review of the referenced appraisal report to determine compliance with applicable appraisal standards and the reasonableness of the reported valuation conclusions. The review will include consideration of methodology, data sources, analysis, reconciliation, and any apparent deficiencies. Reviewer will produce a written review finding with recommendations.

Detailed Scope (describe specific tasks, deliverables, and limitations)

Review Findings and Conclusions

Summary of Findings Compliance Issues (check applicable)

Scope or assignment condition deficiency Data source or comparable selection issue Methodology inconsistency or calculation error Report content inadequate for intended use

Recommended Adjustment to Value (if any)

Payment Terms

Client shall pay Reviewer for services in accordance with the schedule below. Fees payable are exclusive of any costs for third-party records or travel reimbursed under separate agreement.

Review Fee (flat or hourly) Payment Schedule Late Fee

Unpaid amounts shall accrue interest at or the maximum lawful rate if lower. Client is responsible for collection costs and reasonable attorney's fees incurred to collect overdue payments.

Term and Termination

This Agreement commences on the Effective Date and continues until completion of the review unless earlier terminated as provided below.

Effective Date: . Anticipated Completion Date:

Either party may terminate this Agreement for material breach, insolvency, or upon days' written notice. Termination does not relieve Client of obligation to pay for services performed up to the termination date, including reasonable wind-down costs.

Confidentiality

Reviewer and Client agree that information, documents, and data exchanged in connection with the review that are designated confidential or reasonably understood to be confidential shall be held in strict confidence and used solely for the purposes of performing and administering this Agreement. Confidential information does not include information that is or becomes publicly available through no breach of this Agreement, or that is required to be disclosed by law, provided the disclosing party gives prompt notice to the other party to allow for protective measures where lawful.

Reviewer Certification

By signing below Reviewer certifies that the appraisal review was conducted in a manner consistent with professional appraisal review practices and that the reviewer has no undisclosed conflicts of interest with respect to the assignment. Reviewer further certifies that conclusions and opinions are impartial and independent.

Reviewer affirms (check to acknowledge)

Reviewer is independent and free of undue influence Reviewer has sufficient experience and competency for this assignment

Governing Law; Entire Agreement

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction selected by the parties below. Any litigation shall be brought in the courts of that jurisdiction.

Governing State

This Agreement, including any attachments and incorporated terms, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties regarding the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior negotiations, representations, and agreements, whether written or oral. Any amendments must be in writing and signed by both parties.

Attachments and Exhibits

Reports and Supporting Materials Attached

Client Name:

By:

Date:

Reviewer Name:

By:

Date:

What the Appraisal Review Form Is and when it’s used

An Appraisal Review Form documents a secondary evaluation of a completed appraisal report to verify accuracy, consistency, and compliance with applicable standards. It records reviewer findings on valuation methods, data sources, comparable selections, and any adjustments or corrections needed. Typical users include lenders, appraisal management companies, quality-control reviewers, and regulatory examiners. The form helps establish a clear record of the reviewer’s conclusions, recommended actions, and whether the original appraisal meets client instructions and agency requirements.

Why an Appraisal Review Form matters for accuracy and compliance

A formal review creates a documented, auditable trail that reduces valuation risk, supports underwriting decisions, and shows due diligence for regulatory or investor oversight. It clarifies deficiencies and indicates whether a revised appraisal or supplemental information is required.

Who typically completes and uses this form

Common user groups and roles that interact with the Appraisal Review Form.

Lenders and underwriters who rely on reviewed valuations for loan approval and risk assessment.
Appraisal reviewers or QA staff within appraisal management companies conducting compliance checks.
Regulatory examiners, secondary market investors, and counsel reviewing valuation integrity.

The form supports internal control, third-party review, and documentation for audit or dispute resolution.

Primary signer and reviewer roles

Appraisal Reviewer

A certified or licensed appraiser designated to evaluate the completed appraisal. The reviewer documents methodology, checks comparables, and records discrepancies, offering a clear yes/no or rated conclusion on the report’s acceptability.

Lender Representative

An underwriter or quality control analyst who orders and receives the review, uses the reviewer’s findings to accept, condition, or require a revised appraisal, and records the decision in the loan file.

Key compliance and security items to include

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit; AES-256 at rest

Audit trail: Timestamp, IP, action log retained

Access control: Role-based permissions and MFA

HIPAA considerations: BAA required for PHI in healthcare contexts

e-signature law: ESIGN and UETA compliance supported

Retention logs: Document versioning and deletion records

Common mistakes when preparing an Appraisal Review Form

Incomplete reviewer notes that omit rationale for adjustments or acceptance decisions, leaving lender questions unanswered.
Mismatched names or dates between the review and original appraisal, creating chain-of-custody or validity issues.
Failing to record reviewer qualifications or license number, weakening reliance for underwriting or regulatory review.
Using ambiguous ratings or vague conclusions instead of explicit accept/reject or conditional recommendations.

Step-by-step: completing the Appraisal Review Form

A concise sequential approach ensures the review is complete, defensible, and easy for downstream users to follow.

01

Receive report: Confirm receipt of the complete appraisal package
02

Verify facts: Check property data, comps, and legal descriptions
03

Assess methodology: Evaluate approach, adjustments, and reconciliation
04

Document conclusion: Record acceptance, conditions, or rejection with rationale

Configuring an online review workflow

Standardize routing and authentication to preserve chain of custody and reduce delays when completing reviews online.

Field	Configuration
Authentication method	Email + SMS code or SSO for stronger identity assurance
Routing order	Reviewer → Underwriter → QA approver
Notification settings	Automated reminders at 48 and 24 hours before due
Record retention	Save signed PDF plus audit trail for required retention period

Technical considerations for digital completion and eSubmission

Verify the signing platform supports required integrations, authentication, and secure storage before eSubmitting reviews.

Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace supported
File formats: PDF, DOCX, and native Excel templates accepted
Authentication: SMS, email link, SSO, and advanced options

Align platform settings with your compliance program and audit requirements to ensure signed reviews are admissible and traceable.

Typical eSubmission flow for an Appraisal Review Form

A simple online flow reduces manual steps and creates a verifiable audit trail for every reviewed appraisal.

Upload package: Sender uploads appraisal and supporting files
Place fields: Add review fields, checkboxes, and signature blocks
Send for review: Assign reviewer and set authentication level
Capture audit trail: Platform records timestamps and signer attribution

Typical timelines and processing expectations

Set realistic internal SLAs and document external deadlines to avoid underwriting delays and ensure timely decisioning.

Request acknowledgement:

Within 24 hours of submission

Reviewer assignment:

Within 48 hours of request

Initial review completion:

Typically 3–5 business days depending on complexity

Final report delivery:

Within 5–7 business days for standard files

Reconsideration window:

Client may request clarification within 10 business days

Key milestones from submission to final decision

Track sequential milestones so stakeholders know progress and can escalate when SLAs are missed.

01

Submission Received

System confirms complete file intake and begins routing

02

Reviewer Assigned

Qualified reviewer receives task and materials

03

Review Performed

Reviewer documents findings and recommendation

04

Decision Recorded

Underwriter records acceptance, conditions, or rejection

Risks and potential consequences of errors

Valuation Risk: Incorrect loan decisions

Regulatory Exposure: Enforcement or exam findings

Investor Repurchase: Buyback or indemnity obligations

Reputational Harm: Loss of lender or AMC trust

Operational Delay: Extended underwriting timelines

Data Integrity: Incomplete audit trail problems

How the Appraisal Review Form differs from the original appraisal report

A short comparison highlights purpose, authorship, and common usage differences between the review form and the appraisal itself.

Criteria	Appraisal Review Form	Appraisal Report
Purpose	quality check	primary valuation
Typical author	independent reviewer	licensed appraiser
Level of detail	summary findings	full market analysis
Common use	underwriting support	lender reliance

eSignature vendor comparison for signing and submitting review forms

Baseline feature and price comparisons for common eSignature providers. signNow appears first per platform guidelines; confirm vendor details with each provider before purchase.

	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	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Frequently asked questions about the Appraisal Review Form

Practical answers to common questions about validity, signing, notarization, corrections, and retention for appraisal review documents.

Need help? Contact support

Is an electronic signature valid?
Yes. Electronic signatures are generally legally valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA where adopted, provided the signature shows intent, consent, attribution, and the record can be retained and reproduced.
Do reviews require notarization?
Most appraisal review forms do not require notarization. If a notarized acknowledgment is specified by contract, state law, or investor guidelines, follow those instructions or use a RON-compliant session.
Who can sign as the reviewer?
A qualified reviewer is typically a licensed or certified appraiser or an authorized QA professional; record the reviewer’s license number and qualifications for reliance.
How do I correct errors after signing?
Create an addendum or corrected review form that clearly references the original review ID, lists corrections, and is signed and dated by the reviewer and any required approvers.
How long must I keep review records?
Retain the signed review and audit trail at least as long as the loan or engagement plus applicable federal or state retention periods; follow IRS and HIPAA rules where relevant.
Can I use remote notarization for the review?
Remote online notarization is permitted in many states subject to identity-proofing and recording requirements; verify your state’s RON rules before relying on a remote notary.

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