In extreme cases where an appraiser cannot find sufficient similar sales data to estimate a reliable value by sales comparison approach:

• A. The appraiser should rely on the cost approach
• B. The appraiser should use only partial data
• C. The appraiser may need to omit this approach altogether
• D. The appraiser should widen search to other markets

Answer: (C)

When there isn’t enough credible, comparable sales data, the sales comparison approach cannot produce a reliable value. In that situation, the proper course is to omit this approach from the analysis and base the appraisal on the other approaches (such as cost or income) with a clear reconciliation that acknowledges the data limitation. Forcing partial data or stretching to unrelated markets doesn’t restore reliability, and while the cost approach could be used, the question’s scenario supports removing the sales comparison method rather than attempting to salvage it with weak data.