Ask Henry
Hello Henry,
I have a client who's requesting a market value and a disposition value on every commercial report. If you were asked to do that, what steps would you take and how would you go about coming up with your disposition value? Thanks for taking the time to answer my question.
Robert Jones
Certified General Real Property Appraiser
robertjones56@bellsouth.net
Dear Robert,
As part of the "Scope of Work" dialogue that the USPAP requires you to have with a client before you make an appraisal, you have to agree regarding what definition or definitions of value are going to be used. This is not a problem when the value in question is market value as its definition was blessed by the US government as part of the FIREA act. However, when a special value definition is needed, it is usually supplied by the client (ERC is a good example).
I think you are looking for trouble if you try to draft a custom definition of value. It might even be considered "practicing law without a license". My recommendation is that you suggest that the client have their attorney draft the definition they want you to use for disposition value.