Why UAD 3.6 Should Kill the “See Addendum” Habit
Cindi Harris, Senior Valuation Consultant, Walitt Solutions
For decades, one of the most common phrases in residential appraisal reports has been two simple words:
“See Addendum.”
Whether explaining market conditions, discussing comparable sales, describing property characteristics, or addressing complex assignment conditions, appraisers have often relied on supplemental narrative pages to communicate information that did not fit neatly within the constraints of legacy forms.
In many cases, those addenda were necessary. The forms simply did not provide enough space or flexibility to adequately communicate the appraiser’s analysis. With the arrival of UAD 3.6 and the redesigned Uniform Residential Appraisal Report (URAR), that longstanding habit may finally begin to fade.
The Problem with Addendum-Driven Reporting
To be clear, narrative commentary is not disappearing from appraisal reports. In fact, meaningful communication remains an essential part of producing credible assignment results.
The issue is not the narrative itself. The issue is where that narrative lives.
Under the legacy reporting structure, important analysis was often scattered throughout pages of supplemental comments. Reviewers, underwriters, lenders, and other readers frequently found themselves searching through multiple addendum pages looking for explanations related to specific sections of the report.
A discussion about site influences might be several pages away from the site section. A market analysis might be buried in a general comment’s addendum. Explanations of condition, quality, or adjustments could appear almost anywhere.
The result was a reporting format that often required users to hunt for information rather than find it where they expected it.
A Different Philosophy
One of the most significant changes in UAD 3.6 is that the report is designed around data organization and context.
Instead of relying on large blocks of narrative text at the end of the report, the new URAR includes dedicated commentary fields throughout the report. Appraisers are encouraged to provide explanations within the specific sections where the information is most relevant.
For example, commentary can be associated directly with:
- Subject Property
- Site
- Market Analysis
- Dwelling Exterior
- Unit Interior
- Sales Comparison Approach
- Cost Approach
- Income Approach
- Reconciliation
- And numerous other sections
The goal is simple: place explanations where readers naturally expect to find them.
Better Communication for Everyone
This shift is not merely a formatting change.
It represents a different approach to communicating appraisal analysis.
When commentary is tied directly to the relevant section:
- Reviewers can more easily understand the appraiser’s reasoning.
- Underwriters spend less time searching for explanations.
- Lenders gain clearer insight into property characteristics and valuation conclusions.
- Appraisers can provide context precisely where it is needed.
The report becomes easier to follow because the narrative and the supporting data remain connected. Rather than telling the reader to “see addendum,” the report increasingly tells the story where the story belongs.
Structured Data and Narrative Can Coexist
Some appraisers worry that increased standardization means less opportunity to explain unique property characteristics or complex assignments. UAD 3.6 attempts to strike a balance between structured data and professional judgment.
The redesigned report incorporates significantly more discrete data fields, standardized responses, and organized tables. At the same time, dedicated commentary sections remain available throughout the report to support analysis, explain unusual circumstances, and provide assignment or property-specific context.
The objective is not to eliminate narrative but rather to make the narrative more useful.
What This Means for Appraisers
The transition to UAD 3.6 will require many appraisers to rethink how they communicate.
For years, some appraisal workflows have relied heavily on copying and pasting standardized addendum language. Under the new framework, appraisers may need to become more intentional about where explanations are entered and how commentary supports the surrounding data.
This shift may feel uncomfortable at first. However, it also presents an opportunity. By organizing analysis closer to the relevant data, appraisers can create reports that are easier to read, easier to review, and potentially easier to defend.
The Bigger Picture
The movement away from “See Addendum” reflects a broader goal behind UAD 3.6: creating a more structured, transparent, and data-driven appraisal process.
The redesigned URAR is not simply a new form. It represents a new way of organizing valuation information so that appraisers, lenders, reviewers, and investors can communicate more effectively.
Complex assignments will always require additional explanation, and supplemental information will continue to have a place in appraisal reporting.
But for the first time in decades, appraisers may have a reporting framework that significantly reduces the need for those two familiar words.
This may be one of the most practical improvements UAD 3.6 brings to the profession.
If you represent a group, organization, or company looking to arrange UAD URAR training for you and your colleagues, reach out HERE to schedule a short phone call to discuss options for your group.
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