What should I look for in an appraiser? Individuals should look for appraisers who have connoisseurship-level knowledge in their subject areas, who continue to build their education and remain up to date on market trends, who work in accordance with a recognized code of ethics, and write appraisals that include the signed USPAP certification statement below (the following text is from Standards Rule 8-3 in the USPAP manual): "I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief: -the statements of fact contained in this report are true and correct. -the reported analyses, opinions, and conclusions are limited only by the reported assumptions and limiting conditions and are my personal, impartial, and unbiased professional analyses, opinions, and conclusions. -I have no (or the specified) present or prospective interest in the property that is the subject of this report and no (or the specified) personal interest with respect to the parties involved. -I have performed no (or the specified) services, as an appraiser or in any other capacity, regarding the property that is the subject of this report within the three-year period immediately preceding acceptance of this assignment. -I have no bias with respect to the property that is the subject of this report or to the parties involved in this assignment. -my engagement in this assignment was not contingent upon developing or reporting predetermined results. -my compensation for completing this assignment is not contingent upon the development or reporting of a predetermined value or direction in value that favors the cause of the client, the amount of the value opinion, the attainment of a stipulated result, or the occurrence of a subsequent event directly related to the intended use of this appraisal. -my analyses, opinions, and conclusions were developed, and this report has been prepared, in conformity with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. -I have (or have not) made a personal inspection of the property that is the subject of this report. (If more than one person signs this certification, the certification must clearly specify which individuals did and which individuals did not make a personal inspection of the appraised property.) -no one provided significant personal property appraisal assistance to the person signing this certification (If there are exceptions, the name of each individual providing significant personal property appraisal assistance must be stated.)"
