Staff or Multi-Appraiser Firm Context (AO-19)

The foregoing illustrations reflect communications between a client and an appraiser in the context of the appraiser as an independent contractor (fee appraiser).

In a staff context, such as where the appraisal function is established as a business or agency unit, the part of the entity that uses the appraiser’s opinions and conclusions represents the “client” (intended user) and the part that completes the assignment represents the “appraiser.”

In that context, the “assignment” originates from the “intended user” part of the entity. The appraisal unit’s response to an “intended user” in situations like those in the foregoing illustrations reasonably could be similar because imposing assignment conditions that compromise an appraiser’s impartiality and objectivity is unacceptable, whatever the setting.

However, the example responses in the illustrations do not apply to the customary interaction and dialogue that occurs between appraisers within organizations or peers in multi-appraiser firms. Such interaction and dialogue within the unit or group that develops the opinions and conclusions in an assignment is not the same as communicating opinions and conclusions to an intended user.

TABLE OF CONTENTS