Lender Or Buyer Responsible For Appraisal?

The appraisal was ordered presumably in good faith by the lender for your benefit. Lenders do not order services unless they are acting on someone’s behalf. However, when the lender orders an appraisal, they become a client of the appraiser. Once completed, the appraiser sends their report to the lender along with an invoice made out to the lender. In short the lender is resposible to the appraiser. Now this same lender has incurred an expense on your behalf. Assuming that the loan did not fund, there is an open invoice for that appraisal. The lender should pay that invoice (since they are the client), then they may pursue the borrower for reimbursement (for services rendered).