BRAVE Excel Template Download

The BRAVE Excel Template

Not every appraiser uses dedicated appraisal software with built-in BRAVE export. If you prepare reports in Word, use a legacy platform, or simply prefer working in spreadsheets, the BRAVE Excel template provides a straightforward way to generate BRAVE-format data files.

The template is a structured Excel workbook that maps every BRAVE field to a labeled row. You fill in the values, and the workbook produces a BRAVE-format XLSX file ready for lender submission.

Template Layout

The official BRAVE file uses a two-column layout: Field Name in Column A and Response in Column B, with all 99 fields organized into the 6 official BRAVE categories. BRAVE was created by Valcre as an open industry standard.

Job (3 Fields)

Enter Job.ClientRef (client reference number), Job.ReportDate, and Job.CurrencyType (typically USD).

Property (52 Fields)

The largest section. Covers address and identification (Property.Name through Property.DevelopmentStatus), tenancy and classification, sales history, tax assessment (using three-level dot notation like Property.Tax.Year), land area, site characteristics, and building characteristics including Property.GrossBuildingArea, Property.NetRentableArea, Property.YearBuilt, and more.

Income (16 Fields)

Income and expense data entry. The key mathematical relationship to verify manually:

• Net Operating Income (Income.NetOperatingIncome) = Income.EffectiveGrossIncome - Income.OperatingExpenses

Note: The official BRAVE validator does not enforce this cross-field check, so it is important to verify the math yourself before submission.

Value (24 Fields)

Valuation conclusions across all three approaches, cap rates, and DCF parameters. The Value section supports two value columns (As-Is and Prospective). For a detailed explanation of these fields, see our BRAVE Cap Rate Fields Explained and BRAVE Valuation Fields guides.

Appraiser (4 Fields)

Appraiser credentials with two columns for co-signed reports (Appraiser 1 and Appraiser 2).

Data Entry Best Practices

Use the dropdown menus. Fields with enumerated values (property type, condition, zoning classification) use dropdown lists. Do not type free text into these cells — the export will fail validation.

Enter dollar amounts as numbers only. Do not include dollar signs, commas, or text. The template formats the values for display, but the underlying cell must contain a raw number.

Leave truly inapplicable fields blank. If a field does not apply to your property type (e.g., clear height for an office building), leave it empty. Do not enter zero or "N/A" — BRAVE validators treat these differently from blank fields.

Check the validation summary. The template includes a "Validation Summary" tab that lists all incomplete required fields and any internal consistency errors. Review this tab before exporting.

Exporting to BRAVE Format

Once your data entry is complete:

1. Navigate to the Export tab.
2. Select your desired output format: CSV or XLSX.
3. Click the "Generate BRAVE File" macro button. The template creates a new file in your Downloads folder.
4. Open the generated file and verify it is not empty or malformed.

If the macro does not run, ensure macros are enabled in your Excel security settings. The template requires macros for the export function.

Validating Your Export

The Excel template catches basic errors, but it does not validate against every rule in the BRAVE specification. Before submitting to a lender, run your exported file through AppraisalAPI.com for comprehensive validation.

Common issues that the template misses but the API catches include range check violations (cap rates outside normal bounds), geographic identifier errors, and property-type-specific required fields.

For appraisers who prefer dedicated software, see our guides on exporting from Valcre and exporting from ARGUS. For a complete pre-submission review, use our BRAVE Compliance Checklist. For a general walkthrough of the BRAVE file creation process, read how to create a BRAVE file.