A preference or inclination that precludes an appraiser's impartiality, independence, or objectivity is known as:

Bias refers to the preference or inclination that can influence an individual’s ability to remain impartial, independent, or objective in their evaluations or assessments. In the context of appraisal, bias can manifest when an appraiser allows personal feelings, prejudices, or attachments to cloud their judgment about the value of a property. This compromises the integrity of the appraisal process because it detracts from a fair and accurate assessment based on factual data and comparable properties.

Recognizing bias is crucial for appraisers because it helps maintain the professionalism and credibility of their work. By remaining aware of any potential biases, appraisers can take steps to mitigate their effects and ensure that their appraisals reflect true market conditions rather than personal inclinations.

In contrast, while a conflict of interest might also impact objectivity, it specifically refers to a situation where an appraiser has multiple interests that could potentially interfere with making an unbiased judgment, rather than the inherent inclinations or prejudices that define bias. Personal interest indicates a self-serving motive that could lead an appraiser to overlook objective criteria. Judgment involves the decision-making process itself rather than the internal biases that might distort that process.