Proof read the report

Reviewers understand and accept that spelling errors  happen.  I have run across very few reports that have no spelling or grammar errors.  Most of the time, we move past it without requiring any edits.  One or two spelling errors is  really not a big deal and as a reviewer,  we identify them and finalize our review without requiring a revision.  But, there comes a point when a simple spelling or grammatical error crosses into the realm of sloppy work.  

In conducting a review, we examine the whole body of work.  This means we are considering everything.  Simple spelling errors create doubt.  When there are multiple errors, improper use of context, maybe an adjustment error, then we start considering if the appraiser actually spent sufficient time in deriving the opinion of value.  Did they just throw the report together as fast as they could to move onto their next assignment?  Do all the issues create a report that is not credible?  This is the point that revisions must be made.

The bottom line is, when we are reviewing a report, spelling errors create doubt in our mind.  The best advice I can give to appraisers is don’t give the reviewer any reason to doubt your professionalism or the overall quality of your work.  Run spell check, conduct a final proofing, then have someone else give the report a quick look.  Avoiding spelling and grammar errors goes a long way in making your report credible.