D
Deleted member 128537
Guest
First of all I think most of this photo stuff was created before there were MLS photos. I can remember when I first started appraising our MLS consisted of a book with black and white photos of listings and another book for sales. Very little information. You had to figure out some way to get a photo. Taking an original photo was the only way to do it. Then I remember when the MLS first came out on line. There was just one photo of the house. Then suddenly it expanded to multiple photos. Now I see listings with 20 to 25 photos. It's great. I can actually see what the house looks like inside. I can see the waterfront, etc. Far more accurate than in the old days. I actually told an agent one time exactly what kind of photos appraisers would like when they put stuff in the MLS. She thought it was a good idea.
And now we have overhead photos of houses. I can remember looking at a house from the overhead satellite photo and realized it had a deck and fence in the back yard. Something I couldn't see from the road nor was it in the MLS! (In one photo there as actually a picture of a lady sunbathing in the backyard! I didn't consider her an amenity.). As I said previously about hard to see houses due to trees, now I can see far more about the house from the overhead satellite photo then driving by it.
What I am saying is that the certification on the forms were written when technology was pretty basic. Frankly if an appraiser isn't using overhead satellite photos to look at properties in my area he's absolutely foolish. I don't care how often they have driven by and looked at the driveway they haven't used the available resources to make an adequate inspection. And that doesn't count the fact that in my area the one thing that has the greatest value is the lake front! Can't see that from the street! You better be looking at maps of lake depth etc. Plus calling up the agent and asking for specifics.
So yes I drive by and take photos, only because that's what I sign. Do I think it is adequate? Nope. Do I think it is the end all for appraising. Nope. Necessary. Not really much with all the resources we have today. In fact if that's the fullest extent of your analysis of a comparable sale I would say you are not using the available resources. And I have done many appraisals for people without driving the comparables and taking original photos, and my values were just as accurate because I had other means of acquiring knowledge about the property (like 25 MLS photos!)
Also as to learning the neighborhood. I have driven on most of the roads in my county so many time I know every nook and cranny. I don't need to drive to the comparable to learn the neighborhood. That IS A WASTE OF TIME.
So if the scope of work says to drive the comps do it. If the lender wants non-MLS photos then take them. Charge accordingly. But don't for a minute think that just because you did that you have an adequate knowledge of the property and that somehow you are a superior appraiser. Heck you are living in pre-Internet era at that point.
Sorry for the long epistle.
And now we have overhead photos of houses. I can remember looking at a house from the overhead satellite photo and realized it had a deck and fence in the back yard. Something I couldn't see from the road nor was it in the MLS! (In one photo there as actually a picture of a lady sunbathing in the backyard! I didn't consider her an amenity.). As I said previously about hard to see houses due to trees, now I can see far more about the house from the overhead satellite photo then driving by it.
What I am saying is that the certification on the forms were written when technology was pretty basic. Frankly if an appraiser isn't using overhead satellite photos to look at properties in my area he's absolutely foolish. I don't care how often they have driven by and looked at the driveway they haven't used the available resources to make an adequate inspection. And that doesn't count the fact that in my area the one thing that has the greatest value is the lake front! Can't see that from the street! You better be looking at maps of lake depth etc. Plus calling up the agent and asking for specifics.
So yes I drive by and take photos, only because that's what I sign. Do I think it is adequate? Nope. Do I think it is the end all for appraising. Nope. Necessary. Not really much with all the resources we have today. In fact if that's the fullest extent of your analysis of a comparable sale I would say you are not using the available resources. And I have done many appraisals for people without driving the comparables and taking original photos, and my values were just as accurate because I had other means of acquiring knowledge about the property (like 25 MLS photos!)
Also as to learning the neighborhood. I have driven on most of the roads in my county so many time I know every nook and cranny. I don't need to drive to the comparable to learn the neighborhood. That IS A WASTE OF TIME.
So if the scope of work says to drive the comps do it. If the lender wants non-MLS photos then take them. Charge accordingly. But don't for a minute think that just because you did that you have an adequate knowledge of the property and that somehow you are a superior appraiser. Heck you are living in pre-Internet era at that point.
Sorry for the long epistle.
