When a client asks for an appraisal after a prior inspection of the same property, is the appraiser required to disclose the past inspection according to USPAP?

Under USPAP, an appraiser is required to maintain integrity and transparency in their work. When a client requests an appraisal after a previous inspection of the same property, the appraiser should disclose any pertinent information regarding prior inspections, unless specific confidentiality restrictions apply. This obligation stems from the need to provide a complete and honest representation of the appraiser's knowledge of the property, which could influence the current appraisal.

The rationale for this requirement is to avoid potential conflicts of interest and to ensure that clients make informed decisions based on all relevant information about the property. Disclosure of prior inspections can help prevent any misunderstandings and contributes to the credibility of the appraisal report. If confidentiality restrictions prevent the disclosure of past information, this can be accounted for, but in the absence of such restrictions, disclosing previous inspections is a crucial aspect of ethical appraising practices outlined by USPAP.