Sales Comparison Grid

Appraisal report table comparing the subject property with selected comparable sales and adjustments.

A sales comparison grid is the appraisal report table that compares the subject property with selected comparable sales and adjustments.

Why It Matters

The sales comparison grid matters because it is where many valuation questions become visible. Borrowers can see which homes were compared, how the appraiser described each one, and which differences were adjusted.

It also matters when a value comes in lower than expected. The grid is often the starting point for understanding whether the comparable sales, adjustments, and final value conclusion appear consistent.

Where It Appears in the Borrower Process

Borrowers encounter the sales comparison grid inside the Appraisal Report after the appraisal is completed and returned to the lender.

The term becomes practical when reading a report after an Appraisal Gap, reviewing Comparable Sales (Comps), or considering a Reconsideration of Value.

What The Grid Helps Compare

Grid areaWhat it helps explain
Subject property columnThe property being financed
Comparable sale columnsThe market sales used as evidence
Adjustment rowsDifferences in size, condition, location, timing, or features
Adjusted sale priceThe comparable sale after adjustments
ReconciliationHow the appraiser weighs the evidence

Practical Example

A buyer reviews a low appraisal and sees that the appraiser used three nearby sales, adjusted one for size and another for condition, and reconciled the value below the contract price. The sales comparison grid shows the path from market evidence to the final value opinion.

How It Differs From Nearby Terms

Sales comparison grid differs from Comparable Sales (Comps) because comps are the selected sales, while the grid is the report table where those sales are compared and adjusted.

It differs from Sales Comparison Approach because the approach is the valuation method, while the grid is one report format used to present that analysis.

It also differs from Value Reconciliation because reconciliation is the final weighing of evidence after the comparison work is presented.

Knowledge Check

  1. Why is the sales comparison grid useful after a low appraisal? It shows which sales were used and how differences were adjusted before the value was reconciled.
  2. Is the grid the same thing as the sales comparison approach? No. The approach is the method; the grid is a report table presenting that method’s comparison work.
Revised on Saturday, May 23, 2026