Appraisal Desk Reviews

What this service involves

In a desk review, the reviewer examines the original report — the comparable sales selected, the adjustments applied, the approaches used, and the final reconciliation — and assesses whether the opinion is supported and credible. The reviewer may agree with the conclusion, disagree, or recommend further work, but the deliverable is a review opinion about the original report, not a new market value.

This is distinct from a desktop appraisal, where the appraiser develops an original opinion of value using data without an interior inspection. A desk review judges someone else's work; a desktop appraisal produces new work.

When someone may need it

Lenders commonly order desk reviews for quality control on appraisals they receive. Attorneys may request a review of an opposing party's appraisal in litigation. Owners may want a second opinion on an appraisal that came in unexpectedly low or high. Any time the credibility of an existing appraisal is in question, a desk review is the appropriate tool.

What the analysis considers

The review evaluates the original appraisal's quality and credibility:

• Data accuracy: whether the property and comparable data are correct and verifiable.
• Methodology: whether the approaches and adjustments are appropriate and applied correctly.
• Reasoning: whether the analysis and reconciliation support the conclusion.
• Compliance: whether the report meets applicable standards such as USPAP.
• Credibility: whether the final opinion is supported by the work shown.

Information that may help

The review requires the complete original appraisal report, including all addenda and the comparable sales data. Have ready the property address, the reason for the review, and the intended user. Without the full original report, a desk review cannot be performed.

How the assignment works

We confirm the scope of the review with the requesting party, obtain the complete original report, examine the data and methodology, research the comparables and market as needed to test the original work, and deliver a review report stating our opinion of the original appraisal's credibility. A desk review does not require a property inspection unless the scope specifically calls for one.