Inspectors: Golden Rules for Avoiding Liability By David Brauner, Editor Seasoned home inspectors say the golden rules for avoiding liability are simple- write what you see, say what you write and don’t sugarcoat anything! More specifically, report what you see and also what you don’t see- and why you couldn’t see it. They also suggest…
Read More
“The USL Documenter provides professionalism to my appraisals and keeps me from worrying about liability issues. I wouldn’t send out an appraisal without it.” – Greg Beck Editor’s Note: According to the developer David Braun, MAI, SRA, the Report Documenter Software operates in any modern Windows environment and no longer requires MS Excel to run....…
Read More
Clarifying Copyright (by Someone Who Knows) by Tim Vining, MAI As the appraiser who brought suit in federal court for copyright, I wish to address and clarify some comments made in writing in other appraisal industry publications. Whether you realize it or not, once pen is put to paper the author has copyright protection. In...…
Read More
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…
Read More
Editor’s Note: The following is a (brief) excerpt from the story Successful Report Writing by expert Alan Carson. (Find answers to these questions and others: What are you trying to accomplish with the report?; What do clients want?; Format: electronic or paper?; Should you purchase vs. create your reports?; How to build a knowledge base?;…
Read More
Report Writing: Doing it Better to Better Your Business By: Alan Carson, Carson Dunlop Introduction We all like inspecting houses. It’s fun and challenging and we are really good at seeing things that mere mortals can’t. The “show and tell” with clients is rewarding, and the appreciation they feel at the end of the process…
Read More
Fannie offers Cert #23 “Fix” By David Brauner, Editor WRE Just days after the new forms took effect and in the midst of widespread confusion and fear among appraisers nationwide regarding their increasing liability and responsibility under the new forms, and especially Cert. #23 (Intended User), Fannie Mae’s Mark Simpson, speaking to appraisers at Valuation...…
Read More
Appraiser Wins Copyright Suit By Tim Vining, MAI I have been in the appraisal business over 25 years and have held the MAI designation for 21 of those years. Over this time my work has been pirated again and again. It took me until 1996 to learn about protection that has existed since 1978. I…
Read More
Editor’s Note: This story first appeared in Working RE’s Online edition. You can catch up on back editions here: WRE Online When Bad things Happen to Good Appraisers by David Brauner, Editor As E&O providers, OREP sees a lot of claims information. Here is the story of one appraiser who may be like some of…
Read More
Live and Learn Complaints, Errors, Actions Blue Grass Missteps Larry Disney, Executive Director, Kentucky Real Estate Appraisers Board says that approximately 95 percent of all Kentucky complaints are real property appraisal assignments of one-four unit properties. He says the reasons for complaints vary but the most frequent violations are one of the following. * Not...…
Read More
