Why Appraisers Don’t Publish Their Pricing

At Funkhouser Appraisal Services, we generally get calls asking if we can do a certain type of appraisal. Invariably, the next question is, “how much does it cost.” And we sometimes get asked, “why don’t you put your pricing on your website?”

It’s a fair question. In most industries, customers can easily find a pricing guide online or get an idea of what the cost for a service would generally be. But professional appraisal services are different. According to the USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice) — the national standards for real estate appraisal and other types of valuation services including personal property, business valuation, and mass appraisal — appraisers are generally restricted from publicly advertising or publishing specific fees for their services.

This isn’t simply a business preference. It’s a matter of ethics, professionalism, and law.

USPAP and the Appraiser Code of Ethics make clear that every assignment must be approached independently and objectively, without influence from outside pressures or standard pricing. Here are the main reasons behind that policy:

Each appraisal must be priced based on its own unique scope and complexity.

No two assignments are the same. An appraisal’s fee depends on a number of factors — the type of property, location, size, intended use of the appraisal, data availability, and how complex the analysis will be. For example, appraising a small single-family home for lending purposes is a very different task from valuing a multi-unit investment property or a piece of specialized land. Publishing a flat or “standard” rate would suggest that all projects require the same time and expertise, which simply isn’t true and could mislead potential clients.

Publishing or coordinating pricing could suggest collusion or price-fixing, violating antitrust laws.

Appraisers operate in a regulated environment where independence and competition are essential. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) prohibit any appearance of price-fixing among competitors under federal antitrust law. If appraisers or appraisal firms were to post uniform pricing, it could be misinterpreted as an attempt to set market rates, which is illegal. To avoid even the appearance of coordination or collusion, most professional appraisers refrain from posting fee schedules online.

USPAP and professional ethics require independent fee determination and prohibit misleading representations of services.

Each fee must be determined based on the specific details of the assignment — not a preset schedule or market expectation. Quoting or advertising a “typical price” could unintentionally mislead clients about what the service includes or imply that the fee is tied to the outcome of the appraisal, which would violate ethical standards. Appraisers must also avoid making statements that could be misunderstood or that create unrealistic expectations about timing, scope, or cost.

Ultimately, the goal of USPAP is to protect the public trust in the appraisal process. By requiring appraisers to determine their fees independently and in context, USPAP ensures that appraisals remain objective, credible, and free from outside influence.

So instead of listing prices, most appraisers will ask a few key questions before providing a quote — such as the property type, location, purpose of the appraisal, and any deadlines involved. These conversations help define the scope of work, which then allows the appraiser to quote a fair and accurate fee based on the specific circumstances.

In short, the absence of published pricing isn’t meant to be secretive or inconvenient — it’s a reflection of the professional standards that guide the appraisal industry. Just as every property is unique, every appraisal assignment is unique as well. By following USPAP and ethical guidelines, appraisers ensure that their work remains independent, unbiased, and in full compliance with federal law.

When you contact an appraiser for a quote, you’re not just asking for a price — you’re starting a professional conversation about the scope, purpose, and complexity of the work. That’s how a trustworthy valuation begins.