Editor’s Note: We found the following quote among many similar comments online over the summer: “I took the seven-hour USPAP class to update myself on the new changes to USPAP. Most of the class left confused and unclear with regard to some of the changes.” (Appraiser wishes to remain anonymous.) The following is excerpted from...…
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Editor’s Note: As business slows, some of us need a little nudge when it comes to expanding our minds, our skills and hopefully our income. John Harris points out that there are significant opportunities for professional and financial growth appraising items other than real estate. Expand Your Mind (and Income) by John Harris What do...…
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Editor’s Note: Author Beverly Bayer, SRA says that lenders, fed up with shoddy appraisals, are laying traps for unsuspecting appraisers. Fannie Mae has said as much, indicating that one of goals with the new forms is to make appraisers more accountable for their work. In this story, Bayer exposes several “gotcha” traps designed to snare…
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Getting Full Fees By David Brauner, Editor Appraisers will tell you that fees haven’t budged in 15 years or more. For many, fees are falling. Welcome to the world of mega banks and the AMCs that service them, AVMs, the Internet and an appraiser-supply that outstrips demand. But some appraisers manage to command full fees....…
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Editor’s Note: We received a number of comments on last issue’s cover story: How to Make Six Figures Appraising. One of the most “colorful” leads to this follow-up story (see Readers Respond). The comments were submitted by a fairly seasoned appraiser (four plus years) who is incredulous that anyone would pay a trainee six figures (who...…
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“Your magazine writes that ‘purveyors of AVMs have routinely lifted data from appraisal reports for years without asking permission or paying remuneration.’ I have been hearing this over and over again. However, I have never seen one piece of evidence that proves this assertion. Do you actually have proof?” – Michael R. Cartwright, CMA/RPG MythBusters:…
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Inspecting Wet Basements by Alan Carson, Carson-Dunlop The problem is all-too-familiar to many homeowners. It is said that more than 98 percent of all houses have had or will have basement leakage at some point. Identifying the Problem The presence of efflorescence, a whitish mineral deposit on the interior of foundation walls, indicates moisture penetration....…
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Home Inspectors: Key to Limiting Liability By Ross Herlands, ESQ Probably the single most important thing a home inspector can do to protect him or herself in the event of a lawsuit is to obtain a signed pre-inspection agreement prior to the inspection. Furthermore, one of the key provisions in such a contract is a…
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A Word of Caution: Hold your Tongue by David Brauner Sometimes it is better to count to 10 before speaking or writing in anger: especially if you don’t want to be sued. One appraiser learned the hard way. Recently, an appraiser was planning to fire off a letter to his state banking commission along the...…
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Editor’s Note: Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are a hot topic these days, especially since earning mention in this year’s State of the Union Address as a promising health care solution for small businesses. But they are not for everyone. HSAs and other health products are explained here by insurance expert Cleeland Green. For more: click…
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