For Property Appraisers ·
What you'll accomplish
By the end of this guide, you'll use ChatGPT to generate customized inspection checklists and property-specific research summaries before you walk into any inspection — especially useful for property types outside your usual wheelhouse (historic homes, commercial, mixed-use, unusual residential) where standard URAR inspection habits may leave gaps.
What you'll need
Standard residential inspections follow a familiar pattern — you've done it hundreds of times. But when you accept an order for a 1920 Victorian, a property with a detached ADU, or your first commercial assignment, you may not have a mental checklist for the additional items you should document.
ChatGPT can generate a comprehensive, property-type-specific inspection checklist in 60 seconds — faster than googling "what to look for in a historic home appraisal."
Before driving to the property, open ChatGPT and paste this prompt with your order details filled in:
I'm a state-licensed real estate appraiser preparing for a property inspection. Generate a comprehensive inspection checklist for this property type. Include items beyond the standard URAR fields that are specifically important for this property type.
Property type: [describe — e.g., "1920s Craftsman bungalow, 3BR/1.5BA, residential appraisal for estate purposes" or "mixed-use building, retail on ground floor, 2 residential units above" or "rural property with well and septic, 5 acres"]
Special concerns I'm aware of: [anything from the order — e.g., "permitted room addition," "estate sale, may have deferred maintenance," "solar panels on roof"]
I need checklist items organized by: exterior, interior by room, mechanical systems, and site/land features. Flag any items that require specific documentation or disclosure in an appraisal report.
Read through the generated checklist. Print it or save it on your phone. You'll carry it through the inspection as a mental or physical guide.
What you should see: A detailed checklist organized by inspection area, with items specific to your property type that go beyond the standard URAR form fields. For a historic home, this might include: original vs. replacement windows, foundation type and visible condition, original vs. updated electrical panel, evidence of knob-and-tube wiring, chimney condition, original hardwood floors under carpet.
Troubleshooting: If the list seems too generic, add more property details: age, architectural style, any permit information from your order, known features.
For property types you handle infrequently, ChatGPT can also summarize what lenders and FNMA/FHLMC look for in appraisals of that type:
I'm appraising a [property type] for a [lender/estate/litigation] purpose. Summarize: 1) What FNMA/GSE guidelines say about appraising this property type, 2) What underwriters commonly flag or require for this type, 3) What USPAP considerations apply that wouldn't apply to a standard residential appraisal.
This is especially valuable when you're expanding into commercial, FHA inspections, or specialty residential types.
Based on the checklist, make sure you have the right tools in your bag before leaving:
For properties with outbuildings or accessory structures:
"Add checklist items for: detached garage, barn, accessory dwelling unit (ADU). Include: condition assessment, whether each appears permitted, functional contribution to value vs. non-contributory."
For properties with environmental concerns:
"Include items related to: underground storage tanks (visual signs), asbestos-containing materials common in [year] construction, lead paint (if pre-1978), radon mitigation systems, HVAC refrigerant type."
For FHA inspections:
"Generate an FHA-specific inspection overlay — what conditions require mandatory repair notation for FHA appraisal purposes beyond standard residential requirements."