Selling agent talking directly with Appraiser?

[Neil Goradia]

I have a house listed and the selling agent brought a client to the house, who ended up not being interested. However, the selling agent herself became interested and we ended up accepting an FHA loan offer from her to buy the house.

I find out yesterday that she knows the appraiser and is texting back and forth with him, potentially about some knob and tube she spotted while walking through the basement. Is this illegal for her to be talking directly with the appraiser? If so, how do I ask for an independent appraiser to replace the one that has been picked? And who's responsibility is it to pick the appraiser on an FHA deal? Thanks.

[Russell Brazil]

Appraisers are assigned randomly.

Any one involved with the transaction can talk with the appraiser. Buyers, sellers, agents, lenders etc.