Online MAI demo - improving the profession?

[PL1957]

Doing the demo should be a reflection of the appraiser's work - not a collaboration. Had I thought it was OK to cheat by getting input from others, I may have waited to do mine until now.

There's a big difference between something being a collaboration and providing support for someone going through the process. Having someone asking you how it's going on a regular basis helps keep it in front of you. Similarly, having 2-3 people in an office or a town going through the process at the same time helps to keep people moving in the right direction. Many large offices have always had these support systems available. It has nothing to do with cheating.

 

[Couch Potato]

Doing the demo should be a reflection of the appraiser's work - not a collaboration. Had I thought it was OK to cheat by getting input from others, I may have waited to do mine until now.

It is never "cheating" in any appraisal, demo or otherwise, to get input from others. It is a shame you did not realize that before now.

 

[Abester]

My algebra teacher begs to differ. The demo is a test. The test is not to see if your helpers know how to write a demo or appraise the subject property. Of course, I never was one of those "it takes a village" people (but I did like the Village People)!

And, Couch, you are right of course. Had I known cheating was allowed, I might have considered it.

 

[Couch Potato]

The demo is a test.

No, the demo is not a test in that sense. The Comprehensive Exam is a test, the merely demo tests your ability to get the job done.

To give an example, one takes a test to become a contractor, but if testing my ability as a contractor by asking me to construct a house it would be irrational to expect me to do every bit of the labor. That is not how houses are constructed. When doing a demo report, an appraiser should take advantage of the same sources of assistance they would for any other appraisal. As with the contracting example, that does not mean having someone else do the job is okay. It just means you are not working in isolation. You have to gather the data on your own. That does not mean you can't ask others if they have a particular type of data, it means you can't ask them to get you a particular type of data. There is no prohibition on having someone proof read your demo, just a prohibition on them doing any of the work.

To relate it to a school situation, it is not like an Algebra test, it is like a research paper. It must be your own work, but all available resources can be utilized.

 

[PL1957]

Of course, I never was one of those "it takes a village" people (but I did like the Village People)!

THAT explains it - everyone knows listening to the Village People kills brain cells ...

 

[Boonders]

Getting more people to finish doesn't necessarily equate to making something easier. So far, based on what I've heard/read, it doesn't seem like the on-line demo will be any easier to finish from a pure appraisal/report writing standpoint. What might get more people to finish is the deadline as well as the on-going mentorship. That's something that was always available to some "candidates", usually the ones who worked in an office with other MAIs. It's now being made available to all.

I see. Okay, its not easier...we're just TRICKING them into thinking its easier so they complete it...

 

[Couch Potato]

Ever do any long distance running or other endurance activities? Having someone along side does not make it any easier to do, but it does make it easier to get done.

 

[Abester]

Couch, I will defer to your wisdom. If I cannot convince another appraiser that a person’s work to demonstrate competence should actually reflect the person’s work, then I have no place else to go. I have no problem with the research paper parallel, but I guess I should have known to consult on those too. I guess I have been a sucker my entire educational career. I had a guy sitting next to me in a Spanish mid-term who was consulting with my answer sheet during the test. Unfortunately for him, I did not buy into the sharing. After he left, I went back and changed all my bubbles to one space to the left. He failed. I didn’t. The sharing, for us, was over.

If, on the other hand, you are suggesting that mentors as a resource of general knowledge may be used, I have no problem with that any more than where one would cite a publication. If you are suggesting that the mentor help the appraiser figure out what adjustment to make, what the highest and best use is or who the typical purchaser would be, then we will just have to disagree.

Y M C A, … yeh

 

[Michigander]

I am drinking what you are Abe.

John, don't assume I don't do research because of a one line post. I assume you didn't read the rest of my postings on this matter in this thread?

 

[Couch Potato]

If, on the other hand, you are suggesting that mentors as a resource of general knowledge may be used, I have no problem with that any more than where one would cite a publication. If you are suggesting that the mentor help the appraiser figure out what adjustment to make, what the highest and best use is or who the typical purchaser would be, then we will just have to disagree.

Y M C A, … yeh

It is the former, not the latter that I am suggesting. I totally agree it would be inappropriate for anyone to provide adjustments or other calculation assistance specific to the report. Likewise for judgements about the property. I do not believe the Online Demo proposal is instituting any assistance of that type.