Why Adjustment Support Matters More Than Ever

Article 1 of 9 | The Adjustment Series

The appraisal profession is operating in an environment of heightened scrutiny and nowhere is that scrutiny more sharply focused than on adjustment methodology in the sales comparison approach. In this opening article of The Adjustment Series, Timothy J. Hansen, RPRA, MNAA examines the forces driving increased demand for defensible adjustment support from tightening regulatory oversight and fair lending concerns, to the growing use of automated valuation models as benchmarks, to the adversarial demands of litigation and eminent domain work. The article establishes the foundational principle that guides the entire series: supporting your adjustments is not about adding complexity to every report, but about being able to clearly articulate why you made the adjustments you did, what market evidence supports them, and how a reviewer or court should evaluate them. Whether you are preparing for a challenging review or heading into litigation, this article explains why the quality of your adjustment support is no longer just a best practice — it is a core component of professional credibility.