Q: I just received a copy of a desktop appraisal for which the appraiser did not inspect the property that is the subject of the appraisal. May a licensed appraiser perform an appraisal without inspecting the property?
A: Yes. The Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) state that an appraiser may use any combination of a property inspection and documents to identify the relevant characteristics of the subject property. The extent of the inspection process is an aspect of the scope of work, which may vary based on assignment conditions and intended use of the assignment results. It’s up to the appraiser to determine the degree of inspection necessary to produce credible assignment results for the intended use of the appraisal.