In reconciling data in the sales comparison approach, the appraiser should ensure that:

• A. The most reliable data is given the most weight
• B. The oldest sale data is given the most weight
• C. The highest sale price is given the most weight
• D. All data are weighted equally

Answer: (A)

In reconciliation, the goal is to combine multiple sale data points into a well-supported value estimate by reflecting how trustworthy each data point is. The most reliable data—such as arms-length, recent transactions that are highly comparable and have complete, verifiable details—should carry the greatest influence because they provide the strongest indication of current market value. Older sales may not reflect current conditions, so giving them the most weight can mislead the estimate. A single high sale price can be distorted by unique circumstances and shouldn’t automatically dominate the result. If every data point were treated equally regardless of reliability, the final value would ignore important differences in credibility. By weighting data according to reliability, the appraiser produces a reconciliation that better represents market reality and the confidence level behind each data point.