Many appraisers are spending their time worrying about how and when AVMs will replace their services but few actually understand how AVMs are being used today. I hope this article will debunk some commonly held beliefs and shed light on how AVMs are being used today. It will also take you inside the review…
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Business Dos & Don’ts In an online chat room recently, a struggling new inspector asked advice from the seasoned pros: “What are the three best and worst things you did to get your business started?” Here’s how a few answered. Best Went to ASHI/CREIA chapter meetings. It’s a great way to meet other inspectors and…
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Diagnosing Structural Problems Serious structural problems in houses are not very common but when they occur they are never cheap to fix. Some can’t be fixed at all. This report won’t turn you into an expert but it does provide some of the common indicators. Uneven Floors Uneven floors are typical, particularly in older homes....…
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Three quarters of the way through the year, some appraisers are still unsure about how to deal with the change in reporting requirements that took effect January 1, 2003 (USPAP 2003). Some appraisers are going back three years on the subject and on the comparables; some on the subject only. What’s required? What’s prudent?
In…
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Finding Your Way with GPS By Doug Adomatis Why use a global positioning system (GPS) in your business? There are some very good reasons, according to appraiser Sandra Adomatis. “Realtors have been known to put their sign on the wrong property and some have even sold the wrong parcel. In Charlotte County (Fla.), there is…
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Risk Management Loss Prevention Checklist The following steps have proven effective at avoiding complaints and lowering the liability of home inspectors. Two points emerge: First, according to risk management experts, loss prevention is as much about communication as it is about understanding the systems of a building. They stress that expert knowledge is vital but…
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10 Step Business Tune Up By Doug Smith, IFAS Use this ten step program to reach your business and personal potential. It isn’t about finding new clients as much as is about fine-tuning your current business to maximize your potential and be all you can be. Do a reverse business plan. Knowing what you know...…
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Preparing for Success By C. W. Wilson, GAA/RAA The following quote is enough to make any appraiser reach for the sleeping pills. “The appraisal profession may be dying…Loss of present appraisal markets to other professionals and the demand for non-appraisal analysis which will be provided by firms outside the appraisal industry will limit the appraiser’s...…
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Protecting Your Digital Signature By Sean Heath Something occurred to me as I was going through my mail. No one is rushing out to forge my TV Guide renewal form or my letters to Mom. We don’t hear of anyone forging junk-mail removal requests or party invitations either. Obviously, these types of documents are trivial...…
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In the wake of the GAO study, stake holders, including several appraisal organizations, have submitted comments to Congress. A joint letter from American Society of Appraisers, American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, Appraisal Institute and National Association of Realtors writes: “With a patchwork of state laws and ineffective federal oversight allowing for only…
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