Skip to main content

Georgia Valuation Source

Residential Appraisal Experts

Appraisal Fundamentals

Reconciliation: How Appraisers Arrive at a Final Value

The judgment-based final step that turns several data points into one supportable opinion of value.

All Resources
Appraisal Fundamentals5 min read

After the comparable sales are adjusted and any additional approaches are developed, the appraiser doesn't simply average the results. Reconciliation is the analytical process of weighing all of that evidence to arrive at a single, supportable opinion of value.

What Goes Into the Final Weighing

Which approach(es) were actually developed and how reliable each one's data was
How tightly the adjusted comparable sales cluster together
The quantity and quality of data available for the specific market and property type
The intended use of the assignment (a lender purchase transaction vs. a tax appeal vs. an estate valuation)

Why It's Judgment, Not a Formula

Two comparable sales rarely produce exactly the same adjusted value, and different approaches can land in slightly different ranges. Reconciliation is where professional experience and market knowledge matter most — deciding which evidence deserves the most weight for this specific property, in this specific market, for this specific intended use.

What This Does Not Mean

It doesn't mean the appraiser can reconcile toward whatever number a client hopes for — the final opinion still has to be supportable by the evidence developed. And a final value landing closer to one comparable than another isn't arbitrary; it reflects which evidence the appraiser judged most reliable.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Averaging would treat weak and strong evidence equally. Reconciliation is a judgment-based weighing of which approach and which comparables are most reliable for this specific property and assignment.

Yes — an appraiser may lean more heavily on the comparable sales with the smallest, best-supported adjustments and give less weight to comparables that required larger or less certain adjustments.

It's the final analytical step before the report is finalized, but it depends on everything that came before it — comparable selection, adjustments, and (when developed) the Cost or Income Approach results.

Reconciliation involves professional judgment, not a mechanical formula, so reasonable appraisers can weigh the same evidence somewhat differently — see our guide on why two appraisers can reach different opinions.

Continue Learning

Next RecommendedWhy Two Appraisers Can Reach Different OpinionsRelated TopicThe Residential Appraisal Process, Step by StepExplore Appraisal FundamentalsUnderstand Your Appraisal Report

Provided for general educational purposes based on USPAP reconciliation standards. Last reviewed: August 2026.

Want a Clear, Well-Documented Opinion of Value?

Order an AppraisalSpeak With an Appraiser

Where to Go Next

Try a ToolUnderstand Your AppraisalRelated ServiceAll Appraisal Services