When is the date of report for an assignment if an appraiser provides an oral report on one date and writes up the summary later?

The date of the report for an appraisal assignment is critical for establishing context and relevance for the appraisal results. In the case where an appraiser provides an oral report on one date and subsequently documents a summary report, the date of the oral report is considered the report date.

This is because the oral communication conveys the appraiser's findings and conclusions at that specific time. The essence of the appraisal assignment is defined by the information that was provided, regardless of the format it was delivered in, whether it be oral or written. Thus, the report date accurately reflects when the client received the appraiser's opinion, aligning with the requirement that appraisals must communicate findings as of a specific moment in time.

In contrast, the date of the written summary indicates when the findings were formally documented but does not change the fact that the primary communication of the appraisal occurred with the oral report. Therefore, the correct identification of the report date hinges on when the appraisal results were first communicated to the client.