What Happens If an Appraiser Makes a Mistake?

You’ve finally found a buyer, and the home inspection went smoothly. Everything seemed to be moving along as expected, and the finish line was in sight. Then the buyer’s appraisal came in low, leaving you wondering whether the appraiser got something wrong. Now you’re asking, “What happens if an appraiser makes a mistake?” In this post, we’ll cover the types of appraisal mistakes that can occur, how to spot them, and what you can do if you think the appraiser got it wrong. Check Your Home Value for Free How much equity have you gained? HomeLight’s tool uses recent sales records, market trends, and your home’s most recent sale price to provide a preliminary value. See what your home might be worth today! What are the common types of home appraisal mistakes? Most home appraisers follow what’s known as the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), which are established standards for how they inspect a property, analyze comparable sales, determine value, and report their findings. While this guide can help them be objective, there’s always room for human error. Mistakes happen. Some appraisal mistakes happen because the appraiser collects or records the wrong inform...