Research Errors and Omissions

• You can study an FHA-issued appraisal to see if there are any errors or omissions that affect the market value assessed to your property. If square-footage measurements, floor plan design, heating and air conditioning options, number of rooms, or the property location are incorrectly described in the FHA appraisal, you can contest the evaluation. The appraiser might have overlooked or miscalculated important details relevant to your property's market value.
  
  

Record and Produce Data

• In order to comply with the FHA's no value shopping appraisal guidelines, you must present solid evidence when you dispute an appraisal. Your goal is to get a higher appraised value, but you must record and produce sufficient data to support that intention. Present documentation showing errors, omissions and additional information pertinent to the appraiser's assessment. If your FHA appraisal is outdated, provide receipts and work orders that detail changes that have been made to the property.
  
  

New Appraisal vs. Removal

• It is difficult to remove an existing FHA appraisal that is logged to your property if you do not have valid proof of error, but you can request a new appraisal if significant changes are made to the property or if new information about your home is available. Major additions and improvements to the home, neighborhood growth and future community developments affect resale value. If you believe your current FHA appraisal does not accurately reflect these changes, you can request a new appraisal.
  
  

Talking with Your Appraiser

• It is helpful to approach your FHA appraiser with a kind tone and a professional demeanor if you wish to dispute the evaluation. According to Gary Dent at the First Bank of Beverly Hills, "Appraisal is an art and a science." The FHA requires an appraiser to assess specific standards relevant to the loan, but ultimately the appraiser's personal opinion factors into the appraisal. If you have legitimate concerns about the evaluation, you can discuss them with your appraiser and ask him to reconsider his market assessment.