Mileage Fee

If a property is located outside of the fee person’s normal business area, an additional fee may be charged only for that portion of travel beyond the normal business area and at a mileage rate not to exceed that allowed for federal employee travel. 

That travel must be by the most direct route and the billing must include a breakdown of the mileage.  VA offices will consider adding more fee panel members to provide better coverage in areas where mileage-related fees are excessive.

Fee Payment Problems

VA offices may allow a fee panel member to require payment in advance from a particular appraisal or inspection requester if both

·   a regular, ongoing payment problem that is well outside of normal business practices is documented by the fee person, and

·   the party responsible for payment fails to reasonably respond to the fee person’s written notice about the problem and its possible consequences.

In such cases, VA will review the documentation from the fee appraiser.  If in concurrence, VA will contact the requester to discuss and attempt to resolve the problem.  If this contact does not resolve the matter, VA will notify the requester that written authority will be sent to all fee appraisers indicating that they are authorized to require advance payment in future cases from this particular appraisal/inspection requester.

Note: Appraisers may not require advance payment from requesters unless they have been given this written authority from VA.

Late Fees

Late fees may be authorized by VA Regional Loan Centers.  Fee appraisers must have prior authorization by VA to assess late fees.