Ask Henry
Hi Henry,
I did an FHA Appraisal for Lender A back in July. I was paid and the file was closed. I was not able to inspect the attic at the time, as the attic entrance was sealed off. This was noted in the appraisal report. Last week (3 months after my previous inspection and report) Mortgage Company B called and said they have my appraisal, the loan did not close with Lender A and they have a new lender who will accept my appraisal. However, they need me to go back to the property and inspect the attic for a fee. I refused as I completed the original assignment for Lender A and the file is closed.
Mortgage Company B and the homeowner keep calling me to comply and do the attic inspection. I called Lender A and they said "do not inspect, this is a USPAP violation and changes the scope of work." I want to be done with this appraisal and Mortgage Company B. My questions is whether this is indeed a USPAP violation? What is the best way to handle this with Mortgage Company B and the homeowner, who both keep calling me?
Thanks for your time,
Rob
rburkley@columbus.rr.com
Dear Rob,
The USPAP is quite clear that when the client changes, it requires a new scope of work dialogue and a new appraisal. There is nothing that requires you to make a new appraisal for the new client but why not do so? However, there is also nothing to stop you from making the inspection as long as it does not become part of your original appraisal report. For a new appraisal, you are permitted to use any of the data in the old appraisal as long as it was not provided to you on a confidential basis. It should be easy to update the physical description of the property, the neighborhood data, etc., and make the attic inspection which will be part of the new scope of work requirement. I suggest offering to make a new appraisal for Mortgage Company B, taking into consideration that much of data will already be available to you. You'll make the homeowner happy, and may even develop a new client.