Can the form be e-signed?

Yes. Electronic signatures meet legal validity under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch.96) and UETA where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and retention are demonstrable.

When is notarization required?

Notarization depends on state or transaction rules; some states require notary acknowledgement for records used in real property matters or when a self-proving affidavit is desired.

Who must sign the form?

Typically the ordering party and the appraiser sign. If the form limits distribution, named intended users may need to acknowledge receipt or reliance.

How do I fix an error after signing?

Prepare an amendment or corrected form signed by the same parties; retain both versions and document reasons for the correction to preserve auditability.

What if the appraisal is shared incorrectly?

Document the unauthorized disclosure, notify impacted parties, and consider contractual or regulatory remedies; retaining an immutable audit trail supports investigation.

Do consumer-facing appraisals need disclosures?

If consumer-facing rules apply, provide required ESIGN consumer disclosures about electronic record access and consent; follow state consumer protection requirements where relevant.

Appraisal Use Form

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

APPRAISAL USE FORM

1. Request Date and Parties

Date of Request:

Client (Intended User) Client Contact Information Appraisal Firm / Appraiser

2. Property Identification

Property Address

Parcel / APN: County:

Legal Description

3. Intended Use and Intended Users

The appraisal prepared under this request is intended to be used for the purpose(s) checked below. The appraiser's report is prepared for the exclusive use of the identified intended user(s) and for the stated purpose(s). Reliance by other parties is permitted only as expressly stated.

Intended Use (check all that apply)

Purchase / Acquisition Refinance Estate / Probate Divorce Settlement

Insurance Valuation Property Tax / Assessment Appeal Other:

Intended Users (check all that apply)

Client (Named Above) Lender Other:

4. Type of Value, Effective Date, and Scope

Type of Value to be Developed:

Effective Date of Valuation: Report Date Expected By:

Scope of Work

Extraordinary Assumptions or Hypothetical Conditions to be Applied: Yes No

5. Environmental and Physical Condition Disclosures

The appraiser's inspection is not a technical inspection for hazardous substances or environmental matters unless expressly requested and agreed in writing. The client warrants to the appraiser the following known conditions (check Yes or No):

Known presence of lead-based paint or lead hazards: Yes No

Known presence of mold or moisture intrusion: Yes No

Known structural damage from prior events (fire, flood, earthquake): Yes No

6. Fees, Payment and Delivery

Fee Agreed

Deposit Required: Balance Due Prior To Delivery:

Delivery Format

Electronic PDF Hard Copy Other:

7. Limiting Conditions, Reliance and Confidentiality

The appraiser's assignment is subject to the standard limiting conditions and assumptions set forth in the appraisal report. The client acknowledges that the appraisal is prepared for the named intended user(s) and for the specified use only. The appraiser disclaims responsibility for unauthorized use or distribution. The client agrees not to convey the appraisal to third parties except as authorized in writing by the appraiser.

Client Acknowledgement

I certify that I am an intended user for the purpose stated herein, that the information provided to the appraiser is accurate to the best of my knowledge, and that I understand the appraisal is subject to the conditions stated above. I acknowledge that reliance by any other party is prohibited without written consent.

Client Acknowledgement: Acknowledged

8. Certifications and Standards

The appraiser certifies that the appraisal and report will be performed in accordance with applicable professional appraisal standards and regulations governing appraisal practice. The appraiser further certifies that there are no undisclosed interests or biases that would affect the impartiality of the appraisal, except as disclosed in writing.

9. Default, Remedies and Governing Law

Failure by the client to pay agreed fees when due shall permit the appraiser to withhold delivery of the report and to pursue collection remedies, including recovery of costs and reasonable attorneys' fees. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the state in which the property is located. Any dispute arising under this Agreement shall be resolved in the courts located in the same jurisdiction.

10. Entire Agreement

This Appraisal Use Form, together with any engagement letter and the delivered appraisal report, constitutes the entire agreement between the client and the appraiser with respect to the subject matter and supersedes all prior understandings and agreements, whether written or oral.

Client Name:

Printed Name:

Signature:

Date:

Appraiser / Firm:

Printed Name:

Signature:

Date:

What the Appraisal Use Form Is and when it applies

An Appraisal Use Form documents the intended use and permitted distribution of a professional property appraisal report. It records who requested the appraisal, the intended user(s), and the purpose (for example, mortgage underwriting, tax assessment, insurance claim, or internal valuation). The form clarifies limits on reliance, any intended recipients, and whether the appraisal may be shared beyond the named parties. Lenders, appraisers, brokers, insurers, and legal parties commonly reference the Appraisal Use Form to manage liability and ensure appropriate use of valuation data.

Why documenting appraisal use matters

Recording intended use limits liability, preserves appraisal integrity, and ensures recipients have the context needed to interpret value conclusions correctly.

Typical parties who complete or receive the form

The Appraisal Use Form is completed when the party ordering or relying on an appraisal needs a clear record of permitted use and distribution.

Lenders and loan officers who require an appraisal for underwriting or collateral review.
Licensed appraisers who must record the assignment, intended use, and users for compliance.
Title companies, insurers, and attorneys that receive or rely on an appraisal for transactions.

Use the form to document reliance, limit distribution, and protect both the appraiser and intended users from improper reuse.

Elements a professional Appraisal Use Form should include

A concise, consistently structured form reduces ambiguity and supports compliance for lending, tax, and insurance workflows.

Client details

Name, contact information, and role of the ordering party; establishes chain-of-custody and who authorized the assignment.

Intended use

Clear statement of why the appraisal was prepared (e.g., mortgage underwriting, tax appeal, insurance loss adjustment) to limit unintended reliance.

Intended users

List specific individuals or organizations permitted to rely on the report; prevents unauthorized distribution or secondary reliance.

Scope limits

Any restrictions on report scope, effective date, or assumptions used that materially affect valuation interpretation.

Signature and date

Signed acknowledgment by ordering party and appraiser with printed names and dates to evidence consent and acceptance.

Distribution notes

Instructions on whether copies may be shared, whether extracts are allowed, and retention or redistribution limits.

Essential fields to capture on the form

Appraisal ID: Unique report identifier

Property address: Street, city, state, ZIP

Ordering party: Name and contact

Intended user(s): Named recipients only

Purpose: Specific intended use

Signatures: Signed and dated

Step-by-step: completing the Appraisal Use Form

Follow these steps in order to produce a clear, enforceable record of intended appraisal use and permitted recipients.

01

Prepare details: Gather report ID, property address, and ordering party information.
02

Specify use: Select the precise intended use and list named users.
03

Review scope: Confirm assumptions, effective date, and distribution limits.
04

Sign and retain: Sign, date, and store the executed form with the appraisal file.

Configuring an online workflow for the form

Standardize the digital workflow to capture required fields, collect signatures, and store an immutable audit trail.

Field	Configuration
Required fields	Make Appraisal ID, Property Address, Intended Use required
Conditional logic	Show distribution options only when 'shared' is selected
Signature order	Set appraiser then ordering party sequential signing
Audit capture	Enable timestamps, IP, and authentication method logging

Digital submission and platform requirements

Choose a platform that supports secure PDF, audit trails, and appropriate signer authentication for legal validity.

File formats: PDF or DOCX preferred
Authentication: Email link or SMS code
Integrations: CRM and AMS connectors

Ensure the platform preserves a tamper-evident copy, stores an audit trail, and supports retention policies consistent with regulatory needs.

Where to send or file the completed form

Routing depends on the transaction; record routing so recipients and auditors can verify permitted use.

Ordering lender: Primary recipient for underwriting and loan files
Appraisal management company: For centralized distribution and quality control
Closing/title company: Attach when required for transaction closing
Named third parties: Only distribute to users named on the form

Common eSignature options for handling the Appraisal Use Form

Choose an eSignature vendor that supports audit trails, required authentication, and retention. Pricing varies by plan and features; signNow is listed first for direct comparison.

	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)	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies	Varies	Varies

Consequences and risks from an incorrect or incomplete form

Invalid reliance: Improper distribution limits legal reliance

Closing delays: Missing signatures can delay transactions

Regulatory exposure: Noncompliance with ESIGN/UETA requirements

Data breach risk: Inadequate controls expose PII

Contract disputes: Ambiguous use leads to litigation

Rework costs: Errors require reissuance and review

Common preparation mistakes to avoid

Failing to name specific intended users leads to ambiguous permission and potential unauthorized reliance by third parties.
Leaving the intended use vague (for example, 'valuation') instead of specifying 'mortgage underwriting' or 'insurance claim' can invalidate the report for certain recipients.
Using inconsistent property identifiers—such as a mailing address instead of the legal street address—causes mismatches during title and closing review.
Omitting the effective date or using nonstandard date formats increases the risk of disputes about the valuation period and comparables used.

How organizations apply the Appraisal Use Form in practice

Real-world examples show how the form clarifies reliance, speeds workflows, and reduces downstream disputes across lending and insurance.

Mortgage lender workflow

A lender orders an appraisal and completes the Use Form naming only the underwriting team and title agent as permitted users.

This limits distribution to closing parties.
As a result, the lender reduces unauthorized sharing, streamlines underwriting review, and documents reliance for audit and regulatory purposes.

Insurance claim valuation

An insurer commissions an appraisal for loss adjustment and lists the claims handler and policyholder as intended users.

The appraiser records specific scope limitations.
The clear record prevents improper resale of the valuation, supports claim decisions, and reduces dispute risk during subrogation or litigation.

Practical tips for accurate and efficient completion

Small process improvements reduce errors and improve defensibility when the appraisal report is relied upon.

Standardize templates

Use a single approved template that includes required fields, dropdowns for common intended uses, and conditional logic to prevent incomplete submissions.

Validate identities

Verify ordering party and signer identity using business records or electronic authentication to ensure attribution and reduce fraud risk.

Record audit trail

Capture timestamps, IP addresses, and authentication method for each signature to support non-repudiation and regulatory inquiries.

Train staff

Provide brief guidance to appraisers, loan officers, and title staff on when to require notarization or additional documentation.

Typical timelines to plan around

While not legally mandated in all cases, observed timelines help set expectations among ordering parties, appraisers, and recipients.

Order to report:

7–14 days typical for standard residential appraisal

Review window:

Lenders often allow 3 business days for appraisal review

Distribution cutoff:

Share only with named users at time of delivery

Notarization timing:

Complete notarization at signing when required

Retention start:

Retention begins on execution date

Frequently asked questions about the Appraisal Use Form

Answers below address legality, eSignature use, correction procedures, and common compliance points for U.S. transactions.

Need help? Contact support

Can the form be e-signed?
Yes. Electronic signatures meet legal validity under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch.96) and UETA where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and retention are demonstrable.
When is notarization required?
Notarization depends on state or transaction rules; some states require notary acknowledgement for records used in real property matters or when a self-proving affidavit is desired.
Who must sign the form?
Typically the ordering party and the appraiser sign. If the form limits distribution, named intended users may need to acknowledge receipt or reliance.
How do I fix an error after signing?
Prepare an amendment or corrected form signed by the same parties; retain both versions and document reasons for the correction to preserve auditability.
What if the appraisal is shared incorrectly?
Document the unauthorized disclosure, notify impacted parties, and consider contractual or regulatory remedies; retaining an immutable audit trail supports investigation.
Do consumer-facing appraisals need disclosures?
If consumer-facing rules apply, provide required ESIGN consumer disclosures about electronic record access and consent; follow state consumer protection requirements where relevant.

be ready to get more

Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users

Sign Now