I am currently working for an AMC as a staff appraiser doing desktop valuations. The appraisers in our department are getting paid close to nothing for each appraisal (as low as $14 ea.) Does anyone know if staff appraisers fall under the customary and reasonable fees requirements?
You know, it is a free country. If you are working for someone else and the salary is simply not paying the bills, nor paying for your retirement, or providing you with experience you can use to get a better job, then you should leave and work elsewhere or in a different profession.
Right now, being a residential appraiser sucks for most. The work simply is not there. It comes and goes. IF you want to be an appraiser, you need to have a second or even third profession that is related. You should think of yourself as providing "Real Estate Services". You should be able to jump into Surveying and Mapping (there is plenty of work here without being a licensed surveyor), Photography (aerial, architectural, etc.), CAD house plans (i.e. House Designer), IT, Inspection, Sales, and so on.
Most jobs require a certain degree of competence. If you have a certain natural talent, they can be easy jobs But, most jobs require dealing with people - above you, at your level, and below your level. To be successful in the long term, you need to be able to communicate and negotiate, in addition to being competent at executing the work you are supposed to do.
That is to say, most other workers around you have their own assigned or unassigned tasks to deal with. When conflicts arise between what they think they need to do or have, and what you think you need for your job, conflicts arise. So, even if you have some natural talent, you will inevitably find the going difficult at times. Can you handle such stress in addition to being good at the core skills needed just for your profession?
1. Certain kinds of jobs are "glamour" jobs, they are attractive to certain kinds of people for one reason or the other, aside from salary and benefits. Often these so-called glamour jobs just push workers into poverty and even destitution. You will find divorced and bankrupt MAIs, good MAIs - who are however simply bad at business or bad at dealing with people. Such jobs for some people - lead to poor health, high divorce rates, and so on. From a social perspective, such jobs are satisfactory as temporary jobs - but if such workers can't climb out of them, they eventually become a burden on society. Sooner or later. - One BIG category here, is simply people who absolutely insist on working independently - but who are really not capable of executing all of the skills needed to survive as an independent for the long haul. [ To run your own business and make a profit, you had better be good at self-promotion, sales and dealing with customers. In particular, the words "multi-tasking" and "boring work" come to mind. If you want to be a specialist who ONLY does interesting work (like yours truly), you had better be rich, retired - or work for a large company that appreciates your talent.]
2. There are also the "homeless" jobs that work really well for certain people, especially those who are completely incapable of getting along with other people in the world of work. You know, people with distinct personality disorders and the like. These are people others don't want to be around for any length of time, because of that black cloud hanging over them, - that sooner or later becomes contrary survival of the "others." OF COURSE, the rest of us don't appreciate the homeless setting up tents on public sidewalks, writing graffiti on public structures, or otherwise polluting the environment. Society is still learning how to deal with the homeless, who are likely to be a continuing and growing problem.
community for the discussion of real estate appraisal. Register a free account to be able to post and unlock additional forums and features.
