Can anyone provide a sample/example of narrative report?

[tagboEkwueme]

Hello Appraiser-Fam,
I'm trying to take my report writing skills to the next level.
I would like to start writing all my non-lender assignments as full narrative reports.
Are any of you appraisal gurus able to provide me with a (redacted) sample narrative report?
All for education purposes!!

blessings,
tobe

 

[George Hatch]

TBH, narratives are a PITA to write compared to working on a (good) report form precisely because they are unstructured. Reviewing one is like going on an Easter Egg hunt because everyone puts things in a different order and addresses things in different parts of the reports. Narratives are good to use when you have more complicated appraisal problems that require expanding (for example) a site description section to run for 2 or 3 pages or when you have to drop in an additional land sale analysis into a highest/best use analysis.


My suggestion is that you switch to the AI forms and write a couple reports up that way, using sentences and paragraphs and the like. Those forms have plenty of room to write what you need to write for such an assignment while still being structured so that the same elements get addressed in the same spots every time. They're really easy for a reader to read and they don't cut any corners in terms of USPAP or appraisal theory/application.

My client mix includes a combination of regulated institutions and various types of non lender clients. I appraise a lot of non-SFR properties and I use a form of sorts for most of my assignments, and its never a problem. Most of my clients really appreciate the ease of use. I only break out a narrative for clients who specifically ask for one or for assignments that are too complicated to fit on a form.

Here's an example of what I'm talking about. It's structured, but you have plenty of room to talk about whatever you want to talk about. This isn't the only way to handle such users by any means, but it is one way.

 

[Carnivore]

I use AI forms for all my Private work. I prefer that format over the alamode GP formats. Beats doing something on a Word file also.

The AI format is very flexible and frankly pretty easy to use. The only issue and its not really an issue is if your not using an approach to value, you have to remember to not include it when you print to PDF.

Also, its Letter size which the public really likes.

Yes, there is also a lots of room for narration.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Stick with narratives and increase your skills to the CG level.
Learn your word processor by taking classes at local Vo Tech or College. Adult classes are readily available most places.
Break the report into parts, Summary, approaches, and exhibits
I use Word Perfect so if a Word user, you will need to do serious work to determine how to use merge or keyboard files (I think Word calls them fill in) and the templates are found under New Projects (which you create as template files) Merge files are .frm extensions and the "keyboard" or "date" is in red. Templates bring up a menu to fill out.
I did a class back 15+ years ago so there are USPAP changes applicable to these templates and of course, you have to key them in like you want since they are all in .pdf file. But these will show you how the files can be structured and, of course, you can structure them differently if you wish, just sit down with Std 2 of USPAP and follow the minimum requirements and work from there. One file is an old file that was provided by ASFMRA's I believe - gives a good general outline. PS blue check boxes are macros found under tools in Word Perfect. Merge is also under tools but projects are under file.

 

[Joe Flacco]

Hello Appraiser-Fam,
I'm trying to take my report writing skills to the next level.
I would like to start writing all my non-lender assignments as full narrative reports.
Are any of you appraisal gurus able to provide me with a (redacted) sample narrative report?
All for education purposes!!

blessings,
tobe

Take the AI advanced report writing and case studies 1 and 2. It's a good first step to up your report writing game.

 

[tagboEkwueme]

Thank you all for your thoughtful input...
I'm looking over the samples Terrel L. Shields and George Hatch posted.
I'll take a look at the AI forms Carnivore...
I had this crazy thought to write a mechanism that takes a standard URAR and converts it into a narrative template that you can further customize for the client... But I would have to familiarize myself with the narrative writing process. I agree with Terrel L. Shields, it's a good skill that could probably lead to general appraiser level

 

[tagboEkwueme]

Stick with narratives and increase your skills to the CG level.
Learn your word processor by taking classes at local Vo Tech or College. Adult classes are readily available most places.
Break the report into parts, Summary, approaches, and exhibits
I use Word Perfect so if a Word user, you will need to do serious work to determine how to use merge or keyboard files (I think Word calls them fill in) and the templates are found under New Projects (which you create as template files) Merge files are .frm extensions and the "keyboard" or "date" is in red. Templates bring up a menu to fill out.
I did a class back 15+ years ago so there are USPAP changes applicable to these templates and of course, you have to key them in like you want since they are all in .pdf file. But these will show you how the files can be structured and, of course, you can structure them differently if you wish, just sit down with Std 2 of USPAP and follow the minimum requirements and work from there. One file is an old file that was provided by ASFMRA's I believe - gives a good general outline. PS blue check boxes are macros found under tools in Word Perfect. Merge is also under tools but projects are under file.

I have to say Terrel, these are very good... thank you.

 

[tagboEkwueme]

TBH, narratives are a PITA to write compared to working on a (good) report form precisely because they are unstructured. Reviewing one is like going on an Easter Egg hunt because everyone puts things in a different order and addresses things in different parts of the reports. Narratives are good to use when you have more complicated appraisal problems that require expanding (for example) a site description section to run for 2 or 3 pages or when you have to drop in an additional land sale analysis into a highest/best use analysis.


My suggestion is that you switch to the AI forms and write a couple reports up that way, using sentences and paragraphs and the like. Those forms have plenty of room to write what you need to write for such an assignment while still being structured so that the same elements get addressed in the same spots every time. They're really easy for a reader to read and they don't cut any corners in terms of USPAP or appraisal theory/application.

My client mix includes a combination of regulated institutions and various types of non lender clients. I appraise a lot of non-SFR properties and I use a form of sorts for most of my assignments, and its never a problem. Most of my clients really appreciate the ease of use. I only break out a narrative for clients who specifically ask for one or for assignments that are too complicated to fit on a form.

Here's an example of what I'm talking about. It's structured, but you have plenty of room to talk about whatever you want to talk about. This isn't the only way to handle such users by any means, but it is one way.

Thank you for this. I'm residential, so this seems a little above my pay grade!

 

[Carnivore]

Thank you for this. I'm residential, so this seems a little above my pay grade!

Here is my basic Set-Up - AKA Skeleton

Caution: You have to add the Prior services in the Certification Page - Thats easy to do, its just not on this skeleton

Also if you omit an approach to value all you have to do is not print that page.

I probably need to clean this up, but I will wait for the Nit Pickers to point it out...believe me they will LMAO

 

[RCA]

Stick with narratives and increase your skills to the CG level.
Learn your word processor by taking classes at local Vo Tech or College. Adult classes are readily available most places.
Break the report into parts, Summary, approaches, and exhibits
I use Word Perfect so if a Word user, you will need to do serious work to determine how to use merge or keyboard files (I think Word calls them fill in) and the templates are found under New Projects (which you create as template files) Merge files are .frm extensions and the "keyboard" or "date" is in red. Templates bring up a menu to fill out.
I did a class back 15+ years ago so there are USPAP changes applicable to these templates and of course, you have to key them in like you want since they are all in .pdf file. But these will show you how the files can be structured and, of course, you can structure them differently if you wish, just sit down with Std 2 of USPAP and follow the minimum requirements and work from there. One file is an old file that was provided by ASFMRA's I believe - gives a good general outline. PS blue check boxes are macros found under tools in Word Perfect. Merge is also under tools but projects are under file.

Narratives are for appraisers who have self-confidence, a firm belief in what they are doing - and don't need to be led around by the hand of forms. Of course lender work usually requires forms -- and so in that case you embed the form in side of your narrative, if you can get away with it; otherwise you kind of tack you narrative on to the end of the form.

One glaring example of the failure of reports based on forms is the UAD and its idiotic associated requirements - like condition/quality grades that are useless.

Narrative gives you the freedom to kind of do what you think is best - within the limits of USPAP.