Editor’s Note: Appraiser Pat Butler shares little-known but common measuring mistakes, reveals why two competent appraisers might produce varying sketch measurements and provides the best ways to reconcile the differences. Everything You Don’t Know about Measuring (Really) By Patrick J. Butler An important part of the appraisal review process performed by relocation companies and others...…
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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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Compliant Appraisers: Creating a Level Playing Field A growing number of appraisers are compelled to turn in colleagues for what, in their judgment, is incompetence and/or fraud. Here is a template of an actual complaint which was heard and acted upon by a state board. Phil Rice, appraising eight years, said he filed this complaint...…
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– “Absolutely first-rate SCOPE book.” – Leroy Michael Eide, CCIM – “I compliment you on an exemplary product.” – Red Blumenstock 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...…
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Editor’s Note: As the copyright controversy simmers, WRE takes another look- making source documents available and reporting that appraisers are not alone in grappling with this issue: agents, inspectors and surveyors also have an interest in copyright protection and controlling work product. And there is the issue of AVMs and the prospect of a landscape…
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