We are committed to preserving the public trust.
Therefore, we have developed a "Code of Ethics & Competency" Appraiser
Awareness Program to protect the public from unsubstantiated or questionable
machinery and equipment appraisals.
Our seal serves to alert the public to
the documentation we feel is necessary to prove that an appraiser is competent.
This assures an appraisal will be substantiated, accurate, irrefutable and
defensible. The appraisal will withstand scrutiny.
We Demand Ethical Excellence From Machinery And Equipment
Appraisers. Therefore, They MUST Comply With These Four Strict Points…
- Ethical Obligations
- Advocacy Only Of The Appraisal
- Certification
- Defensible Appraisal
NEBB Institute Guards The Public Against An Unpleasant And Costly
Experience. That's Why A CMEA Professional Designation Is The Perfect Avenue
To Improve Professional Competence When Faced With Assigning A Value To Tangible
Assets.
1. An appraiser must not misrepresent his or her role when
providing valuation services that are outside of appraisal practice.
2. An appraiser must perform assignments ethically and competently
in accordance with USPAP and
any supplemental standards agreed to by the appraiser in accepting the assignment.
3. An appraiser must not engage in criminal conduct.
4. An appraiser must perform assignments without partiality.
He or she must have objectivity and independence, and be without accommodation
of personal interest.
5. In appraisal practice, an appraiser must not perform
as an advocate for any party or issue.
6. An appraiser must not accept an assignment that includes
the reporting of a pre-determined opinion or conclusion.
7. An appraiser must not communicate assignment results
in a misleading or fraudulent manner.
8. An appraiser must not use or communicate a misleading
or fraudulent report or knowingly permit an employee or other person to communicate
a misleading or fraudulent report.
9. An appraiser must not use or rely on unsupported conclusions
relating to characteristics such as race, color, religion, national origin,
gender, marital status, family status, age, receipt of public assistance
income, handicap, or an supported conclusion that homogeneity of such characteristics
is necessary to maximize value.
10. The payment of undisclosed fees, commissions or things
of value in connection with the procurement of an assignment is unethical.
11. It is unethical for an appraiser to accept compensation
for performing an assignment when it is contingent upon:
(a) the reporting of a predetermined result;
(b) a direction in assignment results that favors the cause of a client;
(c) the amount of a value opinion;
(d) the attainment of a stipulated result; or
(e) the occurrence of a subsequent event directly related to the appraiser’s
opinions and specific to the assignment’s purpose.
12. It is unethical for an appraiser to advertise for, or
solicit assignments, in a manner that is false, misleading or exaggerated.
13. An appraiser must protect the confidential nature of
the appraiser-client relationship.
14. An appraiser must act in good faith with regard to legitimate
interest of the client and the use of confidential information and in the
communication of assignment results.
15. An appraiser must be aware of and comply with all confidentiality
and privacy laws and regulations applicable in an assignment.
16. An appraiser must not disclose confidential information
or assignment results prepared for a client to anyone other than the client
and persons specifically authorized by the client; state enforcement agencies
and such third parties as may be authorized by due process of law; or a duly
authorized professional peer review committee except when such disclosure
to a committee would violate applicable law or regulation.
17. It is unethical for a member of a duly authorized professional
peer review committee to disclose confidential information presented to the
committee.
18. An appraiser must prepare a work file for each appraisal.
The file must include the name of the client and the identity, by name or
type, of any other intended users; true copies of any written reports, documented
on any type of media; summaries of any oral reports or testimony, or a transcript
of testimony, including the appraiser’s signed and dated certification; and
all other data, information, and documentation necessary to support the appraiser’s
opinions and conclusions and to show compliance with this rule and all other
applicable standards, or references to the location(s) of such other documentation.
19. An appraiser must retain the work file for a period
of at least five (5) years after preparation or at least two (2) years after
final disposition of any judicial proceeding in which testimony was given,
whichever period expires last, and have custody of his or her work file,
or make appropriate work file retention, access and retrieval arrangements
with the party having custody of the work file.
20. An appraiser must disclose the lack of knowledge and/or
experience to the client before accepting the assignment, take all necessary
steps appropriate to complete the assignment competently, and describe the
lack of knowledge and/or experience and the steps taken to complete the assignment
competently in the report.
21. The appraiser must disclose any interest the appraiser
has in any item(s) being appraised.
