If an appraiser observes actual or suspected contamination, the appropriate action to take is to ________________.

• A. Document privately
• B. Notify the client and discuss it with them
• C. Discuss with the client later
• D. Do nothing

Answer: (B)

When there’s actual or suspected contamination, the appraiser must inform the client and discuss the implications. This upholds the obligation to be transparent about conditions that can affect value and marketability, and it allows the client to decide on the appropriate next steps—such as ordering further testing, considering remediation, or adjusting the appraisal approach or value. Simply privately documenting the issue does not give the client the information they need to make informed decisions, discussing it later may delay crucial decisions, and taking no action would conceal a known or suspected hazard, which isn’t ethical or compliant with professional standards.