• Can I authorize someone else to sign an appraisal report for me?
• Is an appraiser required to use software that allows the user to authenticate the appraiser's signature?
• Does giving someone my signature password give up "sole personal control"?
• If a software company creates signature file for use with their software, does that give up "sole personal control" of my signature?
• If a signature is stolen, am I in violation of USPAP for failing to have "sole personal control of my signature?

As I read each of the responses, I was thinking . . .Yeah, "technically" that's probabaly true, but what are the real world consequences if I accept and act on that advice?

I'm just not sure that I agree with most of the rationale of these responses, but it's the last Q&A that really baffles me?!  (see below)

Appraiser identity theft, and related mortgage fraud, are at serious levels. I would have thought that the Appraisal Foundation would have addressed those topics, in this latest Q&A, on a practical level.  At least acknowledge the risks involved with giving somone else your signature password or knowingly transmitting reports to clients that are redacting signatures and altering reports that others are relying on.

Question:  When I transmit my residential form report electronically I have heard that some of my clients are opening the appraisal file and removing my signature file, reformatting the data, and in other ways altering my appraisal report for the client's use. What are my responsibilities under USPAP if I know or believe such actions are occurring after my report is delivered to the client?

Response:  USPAP does not specifically address who "owns" an appraisal report, the research necessary to produce that report or the report's supporting documentation. Once an appraisal report is delivered to a client, a client may do a variety of things, including redacting or removing the appraiser's signature, or converting data from the report into a format more functional to the client, etc. Once the appraisal report has been transmitted to the client, USPAP does not place further responsibility on the appraiser for the client's use of that report.

Click here to Download September 2007 USPAP Q&A pdf (29.8K) and see if YOU agree with the latest Q&A!

Brian J. Davis, RAA - Brian Davis & Associates - Brian has over 23 years of appraisal experience in Central, IL and hosts the Appraisal Scoopblog and the WinTOTAL Users Group an email forum for appraisers.