Appraisers Should Voluntarily Follow ANSI for Desktops
Appraisers Should Voluntarily Follow ANSI for Desktops
Abstract
Appraisers, Fannie Mae has released a new FAQ document to help you understand how to implement and adhere to their ANSI measuring and reporting requirement. In reading this one, I'm particularly puzzled by Q13, and I'm not sure if that's a bad omen or not! Q13 discusses DESKTOP appraisals, for which NO adherence to ANSI is required. Right there, in Q13. And most of us now know that the FLOOR PLAN used for DESKTOP reports does not have to be 'measured' per ANSI. Although, there are multiple companies saying their floor plan/measuring software using a smart phone, does. The intent is for the FLOOR PLAN used in the DESKTOP report to come from any source the appraiser considers reliable. The last sentence in Q13 says that for DESKTOP assignments, the appraiser should "Voluntarily follow" ANSI. I'm open to having someone explain to me how we should voluntarily follow ANSI even though it's not required to be followed when doing a DESKTOP appraisal! Remember, the appraiser doesn't step foot anywhere near the property when it's a DESKTOP report. It's a bathrobe, bunny slippers, in the basement kind of environment to get reports done. ANSI measuring, per Fannie Mae, is only required when the APPRAISER does the property inspection and provides a SKETCH for a traditional Single Family Residential appraisal report, unless there is noted internal obsolescence, and the loan is being sold to Fannie Mae.