Mortgage, PMI & ROV
Reconsideration of Value Process, Step by Step
The objective, documented path for raising a concern about a lender-ordered appraisal — and its real limits.
Our general ROV overview covers the basics — this guide walks through each step in more detail, including what actually strengthens a request and the hard limits on what an ROV can accomplish.
The Four Steps
1. Review the Report Line by Line
Check square footage, room counts, lot size, condition notes, and the comparable sales selected — anything factually incorrect or missing is the foundation of a strong ROV.
2. Gather Objective, Documented Evidence
Closed comparable sales the appraiser may not have had access to, permits for improvements, or documentation correcting a specific factual error — evidence, not opinion.
3. Submit Through Your Lender
The ROV request goes to your lender, who forwards it to the appraiser or appraisal management company — not a direct borrower-to-appraiser conversation.
4. Wait for the Appraiser's Independent Review
The original appraiser (or, in some cases, a review appraiser) considers the submitted information and determines whether it changes the analysis — the outcome isn't guaranteed.
What Actually Strengthens an ROV
- A factual error in the subject property's own details (square footage, bed/bath count, lot size)
- A closed, truly comparable sale the appraiser didn't have access to at the time of the report
- Documentation of a permitted improvement that wasn't reflected in the analysis
- A clear, verifiable data error — not a difference of professional opinion
What an ROV Cannot Do
- An ROV cannot be used to simply ask the appraiser to match the contract price or a target number
- It cannot pressure, coerce, or offer any incentive to the appraiser to reach a predetermined value — this is prohibited under Appraiser Independence Requirements
- It doesn't guarantee any specific outcome, including that the value will change at all
- It isn't a substitute for a full appeal process — if the ROV doesn't resolve the concern, a second independent appraisal may be the next step
What This Does Not Mean
This isn't legal or lending advice, and it doesn't guarantee any ROV outcome. Appraiser Independence Requirements exist precisely so that no party — borrower, agent, or lender staff — can pressure an appraiser toward a specific number, and this guide is not intended to suggest otherwise.