As a certified residential real estate appraiser and SRA designated member of the Appraisal Institute, I am bound by the ethical standards of my profession, such as the following:

• I cannot perform appraisals contingent on a predetermined value.  I do not inflate the value of homes so my client can 'make the deal work'.  
• I must keep the appraisals I perform confidential with my clients.  I cannot give a copy of the appraisal to the borrower, even though they paid for it.  The borrower must contact their lender for a copy of the appraisal or information about the results of the appraisal.
• When a lender requests a 'comp check', they are requesting an appraisal.  A possible range of value for a specific property is an appraisal, even if it is oral.
• In the case of a divorce in which the husband and wife are dividing the assets, I cannot appraise the property 'higher' or 'lower' for the client.  Regardless of which party orders the appraisal, I must be unbiased and impartial in my valuation.