How long does the appraisal take?

The physical inspection of the real property being appraised can take from approximately thirty minutes to several hours, depending upon the size and complexity involved. After the initial inspection of the property, the appraiser performs a thorough search of comparable sales within the subject's neighborhood boundaries. When the field work has been completed, the appraiser completes the report at his office and produces the report type requested by the lender.

A short form report typically consists of under 10 pages and a long narrative report which can exceed a hundred pages. A short form usually takes between 3-6 hours to complete. A narrative report can take weeks or sometimes even months, depending upon the complexity of the assignment.