What is an engagement letter, and why do I sign one?
In short: It is the written agreement for a single job: what I will do, for what purpose, for what fee, by when, and with which limits and disclosures. Signing it is what turns a conversation into work.
Professional appraisers work from a defined scope, and so do I. The letter protects you from surprises. The fee cannot quietly grow, and the report will answer the question you actually asked. It also records the disclosures I make on every job, including my standing conflict-of-interest disclosure.
The engagement terms page is the public version of what every letter says, so you can read it before you send a single message. The letter you sign governs.
What the letter contains
- The scope: what I will do, and the intended use of the result
- The fee and its basis: flat or hourly, never a percentage of value
- The timeline and the limitations, such as a remote inspection
- Any deposit, only if the scope calls for one
- The disclosures, including conflicts of interest
- Governing law: Arizona
What happens after you sign
The work starts, and I deliver the record by email. Payment is by invoice for the fee the letter states; see how do I pay?. Cancelling before work begins costs nothing.