Dig out your USPAP manual and start reading Standards 1 (Appraisal Process) and 2 (Appraisal Reports). I mean it. Spend an hour of your time and really read what they have to say, and then review all of your work to see how it complies with those requirements.
Complete vs. Limited refers to the appraisal process, which is dictated by SR1. Incidentally, the level of inspection, whether it's a interior/exterior, exterior only, or even no inspection, have no bearing on whether the assingment would be classified as a Complete or a Limited Appraisal Process. For example, what if the improvements were proposed construction or had been burned down? No improvements to inspect. Does that mean you can't do a Complete appraisal process on the property as a whole?
Self-Contained, Summary, and Restricted Use refer to the appraisal report, which is dictated by SR2. The difference between Appraisal and Appraisal Report is that the former deals with the process of developing the opinion of value whereas the latter deals with the communication of that opinion. The reason people mistake the two is because most appraisers develop their opinion of value in an appraisal while they're writing the report. Talk about doing two things at once.....
Content, not format, determines compliance with the reporting requirements of SR2. For instance, I have narrative formats for all three reporting options, the difference between them being in the level of detail. On the other hand, I've seen appraisal reports filled out using narratives that are so short of original writing that they don't even come close to adressing the relevant items when compared to a corresponding form report format. It depends on who is writing the report and how familiar they are with what does and doesn't need to be in the report. To reiterate, a narrative format (regardless of length) does not insure more appraiser competency or a better appraisal report.
Getting back to content, use the requirements in SR2-2 as a checklist to ensure that your reports cover all the bases. The 2070/2075 formats aren't even appraisal reports (no opinion of value), and should not be used as such; they're property inspection and verification reports. Verbal appraisal reports, one example is oral testimony given in court, are supposed to address the same substantive issues to comply with the Summary Report option (which may be relied upon by third parties) rather than Restricted Use Report (which can only be relied upon by the Client).
Try to avoid getting into the "report form dictates appraisal process" trap. The form doesn't make the appraisal or the appraisal report; the Appraiser does.
