The appraiser should be instructed

not

to express opinions of value to the property owner, but should make all inquiries necessary to ensure no items of value are overlooked.

When items of questionable classification are involved, such as machinery, equipment, appliances, etc., it is necessary to have positive assurance that any such questionable items included in the appraisal have been determined to be realty, not personalty. Therefore, the appraiser should be instructed regarding the proper classification of any item considered questionable and should be furnished with a copy of the ,

where applicable

. The appraisal report should be prepared so that the appraisal reviewer, negotiator, and Assistant Attorney General (if applicable), can easily determine those items included as realty.

Information found on the form should be provided to the appraiser by ROW PD, such as:

age of improvements,
monthly rental or lease payments and terms,
easements,
improvement encroachments,
hidden wells, and
separate ownership of improvements.

The extent of the information furnished to the appraiser will vary according to the complexity of the appraisal challenge and any facts of the situation concerning the property involved. It is the general practice to furnish appraisers with:

appraisal forms;
right of way maps;
property descriptions and plats;
sections of schematic layouts or construction plans as needed;
legal descriptions of the properties to be acquired;
owners’ and occupants’ names;
copy of lease(s);
legal instructions as to compensable and non-compensable items;
type of interest to be appraised;
preliminary
Five-Year Sales History
data (especially for federal-aid parcels in conformance with
49 CFR 24.103(a)(2)
;
copy of any available owner’s title commitment report or Attorney Certificate; and
copy of any available technical expert’s report (
Chapter 2, Section 4, Other Services
).

For partial acquisitions, the appraiser must receive full instructions on the proposed design, in both plan and profile, if and to the extent available, the rights of access remaining to abutting properties. The appraiser should also be informed of and instructed in TxDOT’s policies regarding:

replacement of existing driveways;
placement of future private entrances;
special situations, such as permits for private and public utility installations across or within the right of way limits;
compatible private usage of land acquired for channel easements;
irrigation facility replacement; and
stock pass and other pass privileges.

The appraiser should be given the complete picture concerning the future intent, responsibilities, and limitations to be imposed by the design, construction, and maintenance of the highway facility. The appraiser will need detailed information regarding where the right of way line severs the improvements, the area being acquired, and the area of each remainder. When maps cannot accurately furnish this information, it is recommended practice for the district to stake the property to show clearly the location of the right of way line.