Obtaining a Release (AO-27)

As a matter of business practice, some appraisers request a release from a prior client before accepting an assignment to appraise the same property for a new client or to disclose the assignment for the second client to the first client.  However, USPAP does not require this.  Also, appraisers should be aware that, in some cases, informing a client about the existence of another client and the fact that the property was appraised for that other client may not be compliant with the portion of the Confidentiality section of the ETHICS RULE, which states:

An appraiser must protect the confidential nature of the appraiser-client relationship.

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