Q: Does litigation work count toward my appraisal experience?
A: Yes, provided the litigation involves appraisal work.

Q: Do my appraisal reports have to be signed?
A: Yes. The appraiser who assumes responsibility for the findings contained in the report must sign the report. The user of the appraisal report is entitled to know who is responsible for the report. Such a signature is required by ASA’s Principles of Appraisal Practice and its Code of Ethics, as well as the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).

Q: What type of reports do I need to submit for accreditation purposes?
A: In most cases, ASA requires two "complete" appraisal reports for such purposes: complete appraisal reports contain the elements outlined in Section 8 of ASA’s "Principles of Appraisal Practice and Code of Ethics" and in USPAP. You should also understand Section 6.2 of the code of ethics, which says that an appraisal report is required to “embrace consideration of all the factors that have a bearing on the value, and be presented in a clear and logical manner." These must be full, comprehensive, narrative reports that actually have been submitted to clients. Of course, such reports must have client references deleted, or else you must have written permission from the client to use the report for accreditation purposes.

Q: What if I worked on the appraisal, but my supervisor signed it?
A: For accreditation purposes, ASA requires you to demonstrate your work product. The report should clearly identify who completed the appraisal, regardless of who takes responsibility for the report. (See Section 7.4 of the code of ethics.)

Q: If my appraisal reports are deemed unacceptable, can I fix them up and send them back in for review?
A: No, because your reports must actually have been submitted to clients to be considered for accreditation purposes. Nevertheless, if the appraisal report in question has only a minor technical shortcoming that is easily fixed, you should discuss the issue with a member of the International Board of Examiners.

Q: Do I need to show all three approaches to valuation (cost approach, market approach, income approach)?
A: An appraisal report must adequately support the selection or nonselection of each of the three valuation approaches mentioned above.

Q: Are these reports the same as demonstration reports?
A: No, because they must be reports that have actually been submitted to clients.

Q: Why are appraisal reports rejected by the International Board of Examiners?
A: In preparing a complete written appraisal report, USPAP requires an appraiser to "set forth the rationale for the valuation methods and procedures considered and employed."

The same principle is stated in Section 6.2 of ASA’s code of ethics:

The procedure and method for determining the particular value in question is a matter for the appraiser himself to determine—he cannot be held responsible for the result unless he has a free hand in selecting the process by which that result is to be obtained. However, good appraisal practice requires that the method selected be adequate for the purpose, embrace consideration of all the factors that have a bearing on the value, and be presented in a clear and logical manner.

The key for Candidates seeking accreditation is to ensure that in the appraisal reports they submit to the Board of Examiners, all conclusions that have a bearing on value are supported and presented in a clear and logical manner. Shortcomings in this area are the major reason why reports submitted for accreditation purposes are rejected.