Scope of Work

Changing Fortunes: Appraising to Consulting

Editor’s Note: According to Don B. Swenson, MAI, changing your fortunes as an appraiser – moving from “form-filler” to consultant- if this is your goal, requires an expanded concept of appraising that looks beyond market value as being the solution to every problem. Those who manage to make the leap from appraising to consulting are...… Read More

Raising the Scope: New Role of Scope of Work

Raising the Scope: New Role of Scope-of-Work By Sean Heath Ah, the law of unintended consequences. As defined, it means that the actions of people—especially governments—always have effects that are unanticipated or unintended. The Appraisal Standards Board (ASB), through their annual edits and amendments, has tried to make the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice...… Read More

Dos and Don’ts: Readdressing, Reassigning and Transferring Reports

Editor’s Note: Regulator and appraiser Larry Disney shows how USPAP is more flexible than many presume, when it comes to reassigning appraisal reports. Dos and Don’ts: Readdressing, Reassigning and Transferring Reports By Larry Disney Real property appraiser licensees often ask, “Can I readdress, reassign or transfer a real property appraisal report?” The answer is “no,”...… Read More

Setting a New Course – USPAP Instructors Go Back to School

Background The Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) has been at the center of a tug of war for some time. On one side is the Appraisal Qualifications Board (AQB) of the Appraisal Foundation, which wants ultimate control over USPAP course materials and providers. On the other side are the states, which like to make… Read More

Valuation Issues & Answers: Liability of Appraising REOs & Foreclosures

Question: I have been performing a lot of exterior drive-by appraisals for REOs and pre-foreclosure purposes. The intended use is not for any type of financial transaction but for estimating market value purposes only. What is the level of risk for these types of appraisals compared to purchases and refis? Typically these appraisals are for… Read More

Appraising for Non-Lenders

In order to continue in this profession with a decent income, residential appraisers have to begin looking for additional clients outside of the lending industry. Non-lending clients are attorneys, accountants, agents, homeowners and insurance companies (for insurable value), among others. Attorneys need appraisals for marital assets for divorces; accountants need appraisals for estate purposes (retrospective market… Read More

Appraiser: I’m No Home Inspector

Appraiser Tony Bamert, Bamert & Associates, Champaign, IL, feels he’s been asked to assume some new and unwanted responsibilities on recent appraisal orders and wonders if his are isolated concerns or issues other appraisers are grappling with as well. “Traditionally, with any conventional appraisal, I’m not asked to touch the mechanical systems in a home in… Read More

Inspectors-Appraisers: Line Blurring?

Editor’s Note: This story is reprinted for Working RE Online, Home Inspector’s Edition. To opt-in please email subscription@workingre.com with “Home Inspector’s Online Edition” in the subject. Inspectors-Appraisers: Line Blurring? by David Brauner, Editor In a recent Working RE story, Appraiser: I’m No Home Inspector (WorkingRE.com, Library, Issue 24), appraiser Tony Bamert says he is asked… Read More