Concern over an appraisers short visit

I recently received a call from a concerned homeowner who had questions regarding an appraisal visit for their divorce proceeding. The owner asked me how long a typical site visit should take, as the appraiser had only spent 12 minutes during the visit. I explained that based on the approximate square footage, the site visit should not take longer than one hour to complete, but it would depend on the scope of work required as well as the information available from reliable sources.

I advised the homeowner that the appraiser's actions may or may not have satisfied the requirements for this particular assignment. However, if they had concerns about the appraisal's reliability, they should have an appraisal review completed with a value opinion from the review appraiser included. I also suggested that if the appraisal was delivered on the incorrect form, it may be a sign that the appraisal has some issues.

I explained that for a divorce proceeding, the report should be either a narrative report or on a form not designated for Freddie/Fannie Mae's use. The pre-printed information in the Freddie/Fannie Mae forms is unacceptable for non-lender work, and using such forms can invalidate the appraisal report.

Lastly, I assured the homeowner that a short visit did not indicate a flawed visit but if they ever have any questions regarding the appraisal process, they can always reach out to me for assistance. I am always willing to help, and if I don't know the answer to their question, I will point them in the right direction to find the answer they are looking for.