The Conduct section of the ETHICS RULE says: An appraiser must not accept an assignment that includes the reporting of ____________ opinions and conclusions.

• A. Predetermined
• B. Final
• C. Subjective
• D. Assumed

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that an appraiser must remain independent and objective, not bound to a result chosen in advance. The ethics rule prohibits accepting any assignment that requires reporting opinions and conclusions that were predetermined before performing the analysis. That guarantees the conclusions come from the data, methods, and professional judgment, not from someone’s preferred outcome.

If a client tries to push a specific result, the appraiser should decline or, at minimum, document that the work will be conducted objectively and that conclusions will be based on standard methodologies and verifiable evidence. It’s fine to use final conclusions, subjective professional judgment, or necessary assumptions as long as those elements are properly supported and disclosed; what’s not allowed is deciding the outcome beforehand.