Which of the following describes a key responsibility of an appraiser?

A key responsibility of an appraiser is to perform independent and unbiased property assessments. This role is crucial because appraisers are tasked with determining the fair market value of a property based on various factors, including location, condition, size, and comparable sales. By maintaining independence and objectivity, appraisers ensure that their evaluations are credible and reliable, which is essential for transactions involving buying, selling, and financing properties.

This impartiality helps to protect all parties involved—sellers, buyers, and lenders—by providing an accurate valuation that reflects the true worth of a property in the current market. Maintaining this standard of professionalism is fundamental to the integrity of the real estate market.

In contrast, other options indicate responsibilities that do not align with the core duties of an appraiser. Providing only positive evaluations could compromise objectivity, assisting clients in selling properties could lead to a conflict of interest, and marketing properties falls outside the appraiser's function, which centers on valuation rather than promotion.