Date of Signature

The date of signature is the day an appraiser signs and certifies a completed appraisal report. It records when the appraiser takes responsibility for the report’s contents and conclusions, not necessarily the date to which the opinion of value applies.

That distinction matters because an appraisal moves through several stages. An appraiser may inspect a property on one date, develop an opinion of value effective as of that date and sign the report several days later after completing research and analysis. Each date may appear in the report, and reviewers check that the sequence is logical.

The signature date also establishes when the appraiser certified the completed report. Revisions or corrections made after certification may require additional documentation or a new signature. Lender aging requirements typically run from the effective date, not the signature date, so the two should not be used interchangeably.