I agree with Lee, Don and Mike (and am also a VA appraiser myself).
As for getting support (comps) up front, I never say no. Doesn't mean they're any better than what I'd find, or that I will even use anything that is supplied to me...but I don't mind an agent or owner providing me with what they think is support for their ideal value finding. About 97 times out of 100, if I get comps from an agent while I am working on a property, I have already selected some of the same comps - if they did a decent job on it that is, and weren't trying to steer me into higher values (typical) or lower values (for a foreclosure bid or divorce settlement). Those are easy to spot and even easier to ignore. I have just about decided to add statements like: "Comps in agent-provided CMA on the subejct were from a distant and superior neighborhood and were not properly adjusted for the areas of superiority (site value and quality of construction). Appraiser's comps were all selected from the subject subdivision, 2 of these comps were model matches to the subject..." to my boilerplate text database for use in some of these ill-conceived preconsideration requests.
As for timeliness: that varies by region. Most of us have 7 "business days" (doesn't count weekends or holidays) to return a basic sale appraisal for the VA. If a value doesn't come up to an agreed upon sales price, the Tidewater memo kicks in, and can add up to another week on to the process...which is fine - an extra few days to week up front has worked out to be easier than having to dig out the file and go through the older 'reconsideration process' a few weeks down the road (when we're likely can't get right back to it at a moment's notice).
Also, as mentioned, we can go back up to 12 months for comps in a typical appraisal...but we're encouraged to explain any sale beyond 6 months old. We can exceed 12 month old comps in areas were activity is low/slow - but must back it up with a small encyclopedia article as to why we did.
