Sample Appraisal Instructions_Fee Acquisition_NRF~12.docx

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TBD Appraiser Page 12 of 12 Name of Project - TAS Assignment Summary

May 27, 2025 TBD Appraiser

TBD

TBD

City, State, ZIP

Dear Mr. / Ms. TBD, You have recently entered into a contract with the State of Massachusetts to prepare an appraisal of lands considered for a fee simple acquisition in [Town, County,] Massachusetts. Do not deviate from these instructions unless I amend them for you in writing. Any deviation from written instructions in the appraisal will render it invalid. If additional information becomes available during the course of this assignment, which is not consistent with the information included in this task assignment, the assignment instructions may be revised.

Company Street City, State, Zip Cell Phone: (XXX) 123-4567 Email: Reviewappraiser@123.com

The above stated review appraiser is the point of contact for appraisal assignment instructions, pre-work, and communication regarding the assignment during the course of the appraisal and review. The review appraiser needs to be contacted for a pre-work meeting to discuss basic specifications, appraisal instructions, and review procedures before beginning the assignment.

As the appraiser, disclose any services performed in conjunction with the property immediately preceding accepting the assignment, as an appraiser or in any other capacity. The appraiser shall report any conflict of interest, any potential conflict of interest, or any situation which may be perceived to result in an appearance of a conflict of interest prior to accepting the appraisal assignment.

Copies of the appraisal and any other valuation documentation or opinions of value shall be furnished to the review appraiser. Copies of the appraisal, analyses, or opinions of value shall not be provided to the State until notification by the reviewer that the appraisal has been reviewed and approved for agency use. The property owner shall not be provided with appraisal data, analyses, opinions of value, or copies of the appraisal at any time during or after completion of the assignment.

Federal appraisals are subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

If you have any questions or comments as you conduct the analysis and prepare the report, please contact me at [(XXX) XXX-XXXX or ReviewAppraiser@123.com].

Sincerely, [Insert Review Appraiser Name and any designations] Review Appraiser cc: Lindsay Nystrom, Massachusetts FLP Coordinator

Forest Legacy Program Appraisal Assignment Instructions TAS Assignment Summary

County/Town, State

Per UASFLA 2.3.6.2 damages as such are not appraised. However, the appraiser shall briefly explain any damages to the remainder property and allocate the difference in the value of the property before and after the acquisition between the value of the acquisition and the damages to the remainder. The appraiser should note the allocation is an accounting tabulation and not necessarily indicative of the appraisal method employed. If damages have been measured by a cost to cure, the appraiser must justify the cost to cure and demonstrate that the cost to cure is less than the damage would be if the cure was not undertaken.

As the appraiser you will need to determine the larger parcel based upon the tract or tracts of land that possess a unity of ownership and have the same or an integrated highest and best use (UASFLA 4.3.3). John Smith does/does not own other property in the area. A map of other ownership will be provided [if applicable]. The proposed acquisition is a whole acquisition of the fee simple estate of the entire _____ acres.

The value conclusions should be stated as a unit value (dollars per acre in most cases) and a total property value. The report should also state the range of units (acreage in most cases) within which the unit of value would be valid.

Client, Intended Users/Intended Use

The clients are the USDA Forest Service and the State of ABC State Lead Agency.

The intended users are the USDA Forest Service and the State of ABC State Lead Agency.

Intended Use The intended use of the appraisal is to assist the State of ABC State Lead Agency in requesting funding for the proposed acquisition from the USDA Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program.

Professional Standards and Assignment Conditions The appraisal is to be prepared in conformance with the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions (Interagency Land Acquisition Conference, 2016) (UASFLA), and the Uniform Standards for Professional Appraisal Practice (The Appraisal Foundation, current edition) (USPAP).

If any of the provisions of USPAP conflict with UASFLA, then the standards of UASFLA take precedence under the Jurisdictional Exception of USPAP.

The legal description for the larger ownership (+/- 1,000 acres) is attached. If you determine additional property is part of the larger parcel during your analysis, please contact the review appraiser to request additional legal descriptions of these other areas.

Similarly, if you determine that a portion of the Preliminary Larger Parcel should not be considered part of the Larger Parcel for purposes of the appraisal, please contact the review appraiser to discuss and seek written modification to the appraisal assignment instructions.

Interests (Estate) Appraised The interests (estate) to be appraised are the “as is” rights, title, and interests which the property owner can convey as of the effective date of value. Refer to the title evidence, current source of title, outstanding rights, recorded and unrecorded agreements, etc. Refer to UASFLA, 1.2.6.1.

Preliminary Larger Parcel: All rights, title, and interest in and to _________ acres +/- acquired by John Smith by Warranty Deed from XYZ dated _________, 20__, recorded _________, 20__, Volume XX, Page XXX in the Town of ABC Land Records. The property to be appraised is subject to the following outstanding rights, reservations, and/or encumbrances (based upon the legal description and title evidence provided):

EX 1 –INSERT EXCEPTIONS.

EX 2 –.

Copies of the above referenced title exception deeds and a title commitment or title opinion are enclosed with these instructions. Please include comments within the appraisal report regarding whether each of these items has any impact on value.

The appraisal is not anticipated to be based upon any Hypothetical Conditions.

Note: Per UASFLA 1.2.7.1 Hypothetical conditions require legal instructions.

Include the following extraordinary assumption verbatim in your report:

1) The property is unaffected by hazardous material, and if found to be so affected, the property shall be cleaned up or the effect of the hazardous substances or petroleum products shall be remediated prior to conveyance.

Note: The reader should note that this definition of market value, required by the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions, is not “linked” to a specific “exposure time” estimate as required by the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP, SR 1-2-c). Such estimates are inappropriate for, and should not be included in, appraisal reports prepared for federal land acquisitions under these standards (4.2.1.2, UASFLA, 2016). This appraisal therefore invokes the Jurisdictional Exception Rule and does not include an opinion of reasonable exposure time.

*1.2.4, Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions, (Interagency Land Acquisition Conference,2016)

As the appraiser you will need to determine the larger parcel based upon the tract or tracts of land that possess a unity of ownership and have the same or an integrated highest and best use (UASFLA 4.3.3).

Note: Any references in these instructions to preliminary larger parcel is for informational purposes only and is not a predetermination of larger parcel.

The owner is John Smith and is reported to own a total of 1,000 acres at this location. John Smith owns other property in the area (refer to John Smith Owned Parcels Map attached to these instructions).

Note: As the appraiser, you should also confirm whether John Smith owns any other property that could be a part of the larger parcel during the appraisal process.

The appraiser is required to verify the above information and provide a complete description of legal and physical access to the property (i.e., Tract 1 is legally and physically accessible from XYZ road, a paved county road that is accessible year-round with a standard vehicle).

The appraiser is expected to determine the feasibility of timber production as part of the Highest and Best Use (HBU) analysis. If the HBU includes timber production, the appraiser shall inform the Review Appraiser and work with the State to procure a timber inventory or timber cruise under a separate contract or as a subcontract of the appraisal contract.

In using this report, the appraiser cannot merely accept such consultant report as accurate but rather must analyze such report and adopt them only if reasonable and adequately documented and supported (UASFLA 1.13).

Water Features Describe, if applicable

Buildings and Site Improvements

Describe, if applicable

Acquisition The proposed acquisition is a whole acquisition of the fee simple estate of the entire _________ acres. Please refer to the accompanying maps.

Contact Information

State Forest Legacy Program Coordinator Contact Information

Insert Name Job title State of ABC State Lead Agency Street City, State, ZIP Phone: (XXX) XXX-XXXX Email:

NGO (Third Party Facilitator) Contact Information

If applicable

Owner or Representative Contact Information and Phone Number

Will be provided upon contract award.

Pre-work, Appraisal Inspection, Report Format and Delivery

The addenda should also include a copy of the current source of the landowner’s title, consultant reports (if any) relied upon, and relevant title evidence provided by the Client.

The appraiser shall not provide any appraisal work product to the Intended Users until notified that the appraisal has been approved for Agency use and/or until authorized to do so by the Review Appraiser.

Maps (GIS, etc.)

Provided as an attachment to these instructions.

None known other than for the proposed acquisition with funding through the Forest Legacy Program. Note: The appraiser is required to confirm and analyze this information if it is available per USPAP and UASFLA.

Copy of Proposed Conservation Easement

N/A

Timber Cruise/Inventory and Timber Valuation Report

Indicate whether there has been a recent timber harvest and whether a recent timber cruise exists for the property.

A timber cruise was performed by Woodsey Owl Forestry in 2021 for an update to the 10-year Forest Management Plan. No harvesting has been conducted since the inventory was completed. A copy of this cruise is not currently available but may be requested from the landowner. The appraiser is expected to make a determination of the feasibility of timber production as part of the Highest and Best Use (HBU) analysis. If the HBU includes timber production, the appraiser shall inform the Review Appraiser and work with the State to procure a timber inventory or timber cruise under a separate contract or as a subcontract of the appraisal contract.

In using this report, the appraiser cannot merely accept such consultant report as accurate but rather must analyze such report and adopt them only if reasonable and adequately documented and supported (UASFLA 1.13).

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