Avoid pressure for a number
Statements such as “I need this value to make the deal work” or “the transaction will fall apart” ask the appraiser to focus on the outcome instead of the evidence. The contract price or another opinion can be relevant information, but neither should be presented as the value the appraiser must reach.
Do not ask an appraiser to ignore damage or another relevant issue. Do not offer an incentive tied to a particular result. Accurate disclosure and independent analysis make the report useful to its intended users.
You can share sales and improvements
Provide a list of major renovations with dates, records and approximate costs when available. Tell the appraiser about features that might not be obvious during the visit.
If you have relevant comparable sales, offer their addresses and the facts you know. Explain why you think they are relevant and allow the appraiser to assess them. Sharing information is different from insisting it proves a particular value.
You can ask about timing
State your actual deadline at the start and ask whether the scope can be completed in time. Asking about availability is reasonable. Do not ask the appraiser to omit necessary work to meet a date.
If the report needs to support a filing, mediation or another event, identify the intended use and recipient. Additional work such as testimony needs separate agreement.
Questions after the report
If a fact appears incorrect, identify it clearly and provide supporting records. A specific question about a room count, a property feature or a sale is more useful than a general request to raise the value.
Ask about the review process appropriate to the assignment, especially when a lender or another party ordered the work. The goal is to address the evidence and explanation.