USL Appraisal Report Documenting
Software II
"This software represents a significant breakthrough in
the overall reporting process."
-
Doug Smith, IFAS, review from
Appraisal Today
Appraising in the New
Millennium: Due Diligence and Scope of Work- Second Edition
“It is a thinking appraiser’s guide to the
current appraisal business environment and appraisal process universe. The
real usefulness of this document lies in the ably presented reasoning and logic
that allows the reader to adopt a mindset to more effectively meet the demands
of the new appraisal business environment.”
-
Doug Smith, IFAS, review from
Appraisal Today
• The 214-page Guide Book
covers all aspects of scope of work, including
SOW report writing case studies and how the new SOW rule effects lenders.
Read more below.
•
Read
more from author.
Read review of manual.
Click "Buy Now"
button to purchase via credit card on secure server ($49). Click
here
to pay by check or by fax. Once purchased, the book will be mailed to you
within one week.
Interview with David Braun MAI, SRA author of
Appraising in the New Millennium: Due Diligence and Scope of Work- Second
Edition
Editor's Note: If you’re like Leory Eide or Red Blumenstock (quoted
above) or one of the over 13,000 other appraisers who enjoyed a free download of
Appraising in the New Millennium: Due Diligence and Scope of Work, author
David Braun, MAI, SRA needs no introduction. Braun's
Second Edition of Appraising in the New Millennium contains specific case
studies for reporting the Scope of Work for residential forms and commercial
narrative reports.
WRE:
What is new in the Second Edition
of Appraising in the New Millennium?
Braun:
The concept of scope of work (SOW) is continually evolving, so there are
plenty of new issues to address. USPAP’s new SOW Rule has officially come out in
print. It has some specific development and reporting requirements. My new
edition addresses these items. Case studies help appraisers diagnose real-life
assignments with complete SOW reporting samples. A new chapter has been added
for lenders. It dispels common misconceptions relating to lending and sample
engagement letters. If you liked the first edition, you will like the second one
even better.
WRE: Why do appraisers need to know
the material in your book?
Braun:
The users of appraisal services are demanding and USPAP is allowing for
more flexibility. I believe the
countdown is on for appraisers; anyone who does not understand and utilize
USPAP’s new SOW Rule is going to be at a serious disadvantage competitively.
First, they will have to worry about their state appraisal commission
scrutinizing their SOW development and reporting. Second, they will not be able
to compete with appraisers who know how and when to do less work on certain
assignments.
The appraisers who provide a super-adequate appraisal and report will not be
able to charge any more than those who do less, leaving that appraiser making
less per hour and having longer turn-times. Third, appraisers must be able to
recognize assignments that require more work than usual in order to stay out of
liability problems (and charge adequately). Apparently, many appraisers
recognize this as over 13,000 copies of the
First Edition were downloaded from
www.workinge.com.
WRE:
Why did you write the Second
Edition?
Braun: I believe
that the SOW decision mechanism has been the missing step in the progression of
the appraisal industry’s journey to the status of a true profession. The absurd
idea that “one size fits all” has prevented many appraisers from efficiently
(and sometimes effectively) providing services that meet the needs of the
intended user. The SOW decision process allows the appraiser to isolate the
user’s problem and needs. This allows the appraiser to focus solely on
contributing to the solution of that problem. After all, one of the hallmarks of
a professional is to be able to “do the job right.”
As appraisers become recognized as professionals they will command more
compensation and greater respect.
However, there is a catch- appraisers also will have to take on more
responsibility.
WRE:
There are several new guides
offered about SOW. What is
unique about your book?
Braun: Most
of the books that I have seen focus on the appraiser’s responsibility as
described only by USPAP. While USPAP is a major driver of SOW- and I
cover this, it is not the only one.
My book covers the subject of SOW in a much broader fashion. It
addresses all of the drivers of SOW, such as professional appraisal
professions, state laws, supplemental standards and liability
management. In addition, I
present some new concepts that are not currently in the appraiser’s body
of knowledge. For example,
the “due diligence decision” is presented as one of the main steps in
the SOW decision.
This is not in any other material that I have seen. The concept of
“credibility” is discussed extensively.
In fact, over 30 new definitions are presented in my book.
I do not see how the SOW decision can be fully understood without these
new concepts filling the gaps. Most
of the other guides on the market start at USPAP’s new SOW Rule,
assuming that the appraiser already knows the basic concepts of SOW.
I believe this is the only material on the market that starts the
appraiser at the beginning of the SOW concept and moves progressively to
the more complex facets of the topic.
WRE:
What is the related software?
Braun:
This program called the “USL Report Documenter II” is a tool that assists
the appraiser in the documentation of an appraisal report. It creates
everything from the certification to the SOW. You have heard that an
appraisal can be reported on a paper napkin? Well this creates all of
the documentation that would have to be included with the analysis.
It is dynamic in that it customizes all of the documentation to the
assignment. Creating
documentation that matches the appraisal and assignment is an invaluable
tool for use in liability management. This newer version is updated to
work with the most frequently used Fannie Mae forms. It also serves as a
stand alone “restricted use” format report. Version II of the USL Report
Documenter has a helpful and flexible reporting engine as well.
Flexibility is the key as each certification and SOW must be reported
uniquely to the assignment and appraisal parameters. While this program
requires that Microsoft’s Excel be loaded on the computer, it does not
require the user to have knowledge of Excel. The book offers the
knowledge and this software offers the means for appraisers to meet the
demands of appraising in this new millennium.
Purchase Second Edition and Software above using a secure server. Read a
book and software
review by Doug Smith.
| 
