When verifying sales, which technique should be used?

• A. Document every conversation in writing
• B. Check the data against third-party sources
• C. Ask the most important questions first
• D. Verify the seller's identity

Answer: (C)

When verifying sales, focus on gathering the information that has the biggest impact on value first. Asking the most important questions upfront helps you quickly determine whether a sale truly reflects market value or is distorted by terms or conditions. Think about whether the sale was arms-length and what the effective price was after any concessions or financing terms. Also confirm the sale date and the market conditions at that time, and whether the property characteristics match the subject closely enough to be comparable. Getting these critical details early lets you decide if the sale can be used as a comparable and what adjustments might be needed. Other steps like documenting conversations, verifying identity, or cross-checking data with third-party sources are important, but they follow once you’ve established the core reliability of the sale through these priority questions.