MLS Comp Photos WTF!

[Kris Chase]

You need to drive all of your comps. That's part of the job. I usually pull 5-10 comps, then make notes on condition, etc., so after I've seen the subject, I know which are closer in condition, etc. If I'm going to be far away, i.e., 1 hour drive, then I'll take extra time to pick out good comps so I can take all the pictures while I'm there and not have to make another trip. Most of the time, unless the owner has lived in the house since 1900, the subject property has been listed on MLS at one time or another, so you can see what it looked like the last time it was listed and pull comps.

If you know the neighborhood, then you should have an idea of value before you even inspect the property so you should be able to narrow it down.

 

[Workbox]

No, it's the guys that don't put the MLS number of the comps on the grid.

TC

OH Gawd, now that is dredging up the past.

 

[New Orleans Guy]

I surrender Webbed Feet.

OK, I should have known better. The only way to do an appraisal is to the letter of the law in every respect. I will drive every comp, take photos, call every realtor for every sale and the ones that don't hang up can tell me about the sales, then I will measure the comps since 80% of ALL listings that I have ever measured for a sale are smaller than the listing says. Then if it is a condo, I will knock on 112 doors and ask if they rent or own so I won't be "making it up". I will have to hurry though since the AMC wants the appraisal back 24 hours after inspection, and at $250-275 if I take too long gathering data I will break minimum wage laws and have to turn myself in. I would DEMAND the full fee since that is what many people here say they do, But I am tired of hearing laughter as the phone hangs up, or checking my internet connection for lost signal when 4-5 orders a week turns in to 0-1 per month after raising my fees $25 with the AMC's I now have to use thanks to Cuomo.
:new_all_coholic:

 

[PropertyEconomics]

OK, I should have known better. The only way to do an appraisal is to the letter of the law in every respect. I will drive every comp, take photos, call every realtor for every sale and the ones that don't hang up can tell me about the sales, then I will measure the comps since 80% of ALL listings that I have ever measured for a sale are smaller than the listing says. Then if it is a condo, I will knock on 112 doors and ask if they rent or own so I won't be "making it up". I will have to hurry though since the AMC wants the appraisal back 24 hours after inspection, and at $250-275 if I take too long gathering data I will break minimum wage laws and have to turn myself in. I would DEMAND the full fee since that is what many people here say they do, But I am tired of hearing laughter as the phone hangs up, or checking my internet connection for lost signal when 4-5 orders a week turns in to 0-1 per month after raising my fees $25 with the AMC's I now have to use thanks to Cuomo.
:new_all_coholic:

You mean you dont do your appraisals to the letter of the law????? What you have outlined is a pretty typical appraisal at the firms I have worked at .... hmmmmm guess those that taught me wanted me to obey the law. Who would have guessed it????

 

[Surf Cat]

Try this address in Google Earth or any other similar site. Let me know what you can see.

19051 Spyrock Road, laytonville, ca

Holy Crap! Look what I got with that address!

 

[Kevin Mc]

I always thought the best indication of a lousy appraiser was someone who typed in ALL CAPS.

....No, that is an indicator of an old appraiser.

 

[Kevin Mc]

OK, I should have known better. The only way to do an appraisal is to the letter of the law in every respect. I will drive every comp, take photos, call every Realtor for every sale and the ones that don't hang up can tell me about the sales, then I will measure the comps since 80% of ALL listings that I have ever measured for a sale are smaller than the listing says. Then if it is a condo, I will knock on 112 doors and ask if they rent or own so I won't be "making it up". I will have to hurry though since the AMC wants the appraisal back 24 hours after inspection, and at $250-275 if I take too long gathering data I will break minimum wage laws and have to turn myself in. I would DEMAND the full fee since that is what many people here say they do, But I am tired of hearing laughter as the phone hangs up, or checking my internet connection for lost signal when 4-5 orders a week turns in to 0-1 per month after raising my fees $25 with the AMC's I now have to use thanks to Cuomo.
:new_all_coholic:

Truly pathetic. You sign a certification on every report stating that at a minimum you inspected every comparable from the street.. Is there something about that you don't get? You come the forum asking for advice and you have 11 pages of it telling you to drive the comps, shoot the pictures like you are suppose to and your response is a smarmy snot nose sarcastic answer? Did you get thrown out of the Dale Carnegie class?

PS Einstein, AMCs is not possessive but I would expect you to make that mistake. You aren't that bright.

 

[RSW]

You have to admit. The OP has some Balls for coming on this forum with this sort of thread. Just sounds like he/she was trained or not trained in a Skippy Mill.

 

[Workbox]

You have to admit. The OP has some Balls for coming on this forum with this sort of thread. Just sounds like he/she was trained or not trained in a Skippy Mill.

At first I thought it might be a joke. Then again, I am not surprised that they ask this question if all is true, which it sounds to be.

Yes, many are frustrated over this, and we may have exposed our Nemesis. Or maybe they are just the consequence of what the leaders of our profession have allowed to occur? Yes, yes, I know, the "evil licensing". Now, if there was a way that the forum could indicate how long they have been Lic. Cert. and Gen. Maybe it would help us in determining the kind of replies that one would get. Because even I questioned the years of Certification and experience behind it? We know that there are some Licensed appraisers that have extensive experience are peered with some of the most experienced Certs. Then we have those that are Certs, just to meet the minimum and some recent Certs. that are now Gens. Get my point?

This way we can direct our responses appropriate. I think there are 3 ways of handling this OP. One to explain you method and why. Two, explain their errors and figure out why they are doing the way they are. Three, run them off the profession, because of who they might be? If they are a longer timer with these kind of questions, then one has to wonder. If they are recent, then maybe give them some slack to a certain extent.

I remember coming here because I had question, because I realized that my one of my mentors had taught me some inappropriate protocols.

 

[melemel]

And don't forget to have all of this done in 24-48 hours or it will effect you profile rating!!!

This site is suppose to be here for us appraisers to communicate and help each other. Not to put one another down and make fun of. Which is what I read all to often.