What is the primary purpose of an appraiser making an inspection of the subject property?

• A. To collect information about characteristics that are relevant to value.
• B. To establish the final value directly.
• C. To assess the property's legal disputes.
• D. To measure the property for construction alternatives.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that an appraisal inspection serves to gather information about the property's characteristics that influence value. By inspecting, the appraiser observes and records features such as size, layout, age, construction quality, condition, improvements, fixtures, and site factors like access, location, and zoning. This firsthand information becomes the factual basis for the appraisal analysis, helping to explain why the property is valued a certain way and ensuring the final value rests on credible data rather than assumption. The inspection isn’t about setting the final value on the spot, resolving legal disputes, or planning construction alternatives; those outcomes come from analyzing the collected data and applying appropriate valuation methods.