(a) Conflicts. An appraiser must disclose to both parties
any potential conflicts of interest no later than the fifth day after
being hired, and before the appraiser begins work on the appraisal.
Potential conflicts of interest are listed in §5.4212 of this
title (relating to Appraisal Process - Appraiser Qualifications and
Conflicts of Interest).
(b) Withdrawal prohibited. After an appraiser has accepted
the responsibility for an appraisal, the appraiser may not withdraw
or abandon the appraisal unless compelled to do so by unanticipated
circumstances that would render it impossible or impractical to continue.
The appraiser may not charge a fee for services if the appraiser withdraws
or abandons the appraisal.
(c) Postponement. An appraiser must postpone the appraisal
for a reasonable amount of time if a party shows good cause for a
postponement.
(d) Duties. An appraiser must:
(1) consider all information provided by the parties
and any other reasonably available evidence material to the claim;
(2) follow the association insurance policy when making
the appraisal decision;
(3) carefully decide all issues submitted for determination
regarding the amount of loss; and
(4) give the parties and the other appraiser an itemized
written appraisal.
(e) Fairness. An appraiser must conduct the appraisal
process to advance the fair and efficient resolution of the matters
submitted for decisions.
(f) Independence. An appraiser may not:
(1) permit outside pressure to affect the appraisal;
or
(2) delegate the duty to decide to any other person.
(g) Prohibited communications. An appraiser may not
communicate with an appraisal umpire without including the other party
or the other party's appraiser, except as permitted under §5.4220
of this title (relating to Appraisal Process - Prohibited Communications).
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