Valuation Approaches
Describe and apply applicable approaches: sales comparison, income, and cost. Explain why certain approaches were weighted more heavily given property and market characteristics.
A reliable appraisal establishes objective value for lending decisions, tax reporting, settlements, and portfolio management while documenting methods and data used. Properly prepared reports reduce dispute risk, support underwriting, and satisfy regulatory standards such as FIRREA and state appraisal board rules.
Several parties rely on appraisals at different stages of a real estate transaction or valuation process.
Roles vary by use case; lenders will impose stricter standards for federally related transactions while private parties may accept different report formats.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Signing Order | Specify sequential or parallel signer order depending on lender instructions. |
| Authentication | Choose email, SMS code, or advanced methods per client or lender policy. |
| Document Format | Use PDF/A or standard PDF for long-term preservation and compatibility. |
| Retention Policy | Set automatic retention according to legal requirements and firm policy. |
Ensure the e-signing and storage platform supports required security, authentication, and file formats.
Confirm platform compliance needs such as encryption in transit and at rest, audit trails, and any required BAAs for health or sensitive client data before routing appraisal documents through the system.
Describe and apply applicable approaches: sales comparison, income, and cost. Explain why certain approaches were weighted more heavily given property and market characteristics.
List recent, market-relevant comparables with sale dates, adjustments, and rationale for selection to justify the concluded value.
Document physical inspection findings including condition, improvements, and any deferred maintenance observed during the visit.
Summarize current market conditions, supply/demand indicators, and trends that materially affect the subject property value.
Include clear exterior and interior photos supporting condition and comparable analysis; label images with date and view description.
Appraiser certification statement, licensure details, signature, and any limiting conditions required by state law or client instruction.
Provide the final report as PDF and PDF/A for archival. Include a separate ZIP with photos, maps, and raw data if clients request original assets.
Attach copies of the deed or title abstract to verify ownership and legal description used in the analysis.
Include assessor records, tax bill, and parcel maps to support market adjustments and site characteristics.
Attach any prior appraisal reports or broker opinions of value used for trend analysis and reconciliation.
Commonly 5–15 business days from order to delivery, depending on inspection scheduling and data needs.
Rush requests may shorten delivery to 24–72 hours but often incur additional fees.
Allow 3–7 business days for requested revisions or lender-type clarifications after initial delivery.
Start retention countdown from the effective date of the report for recordkeeping obligations.
Expect longer timelines if reports are subject to internal audit, underwriting exceptions, or third-party review.
Client authorization and scope confirmation completed; inspector assigned.
On-site inspection date and access confirmed with owner or occupant.
Draft report prepared with comparables and initial reconciliation for internal review.
Signed and certified report delivered to the client with audit trail retained.
| 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 | Available (Business Premium) | Available | Available | Available | Limited |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes (BAA available) | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Envelope Cap | No envelope cap | 100 envelopes/user/year cap | Varies | Varies | Varies |