Acceptable Roof Photos

[JAM]

Hello Fellow Appraisers!

I have a concern from a lender who keeps asking me to provide photos of a damaged roof that the borrower / owner that I could not visually see from standing on the ground. The borrower / owner showed me the bucket where the leak was occurred, so I took a picture and explained the roof damage in a revision I did. Now, the lender says that they need photos of the roof damage.

To what point is it acceptable for them to make a request like this to me demanding pictures I don't have when I originally disclosed this in the report from the borrower / owner? I don't even think I have a ladder tall enough and even if I did, why would I want to walk on a damaged roof? Is this request acceptable?

Does anyone have any ideas of how much of this is mandatory and what should I say back to the AMC (who is in favor of the lender anyways) or state in the report for the lender that I don't have photos and it's an unreasonable request. I don't believe Fannie Mae would require us to do this. This is just a conventional refinance, not even FHA.

Please help me how to deal with this.

Thank you all!

JAM

 

[gregb]

Hello Fellow Appraisers!

I have a concern from a lender who keeps asking me to provide photos of a damaged roof that the borrower / owner that I could not visually see from standing on the ground. The borrower / owner showed me the bucket where the leak was occurred, so I took a picture and explained the roof damage in a revision I did. Now, the lender says that they need photos of the roof damage.

To what point is it acceptable for them to make a request like this to me demanding pictures I don't have when I originally disclosed this in the report from the borrower / owner? I don't even think I have a ladder tall enough and even if I did, why would I want to walk on a damaged roof? Is this request acceptable?

Does anyone have any ideas of how much of this is mandatory and what should I say back to the AMC (who is in favor of the lender anyways) or state in the report for the lender that I don't have photos and it's an unreasonable request. I don't believe Fannie Mae would require us to do this. This is just a conventional refinance, not even FHA.

Please help me how to deal with this.

Thank you all!

JAM

$300 fee to return to the subject for roof photos, safe and secure ladder to be provided by the owner.

 

[Mike Kennedy]

re: "This is just a conventional refinance"

um: MV appraisal based on hypothetical sale on the Effective Date of appraisal.

Post a photo of the house? Is there an attic? if so, interior access to the attic?

 

[Michigan CG]

We had a huge hail storm here in 2015 and almost everyone got a new roof in our subdivision. From the ground I could not see any damage to my roof but the INSPECTOR used orange chalk to show a lot of damage.

It is beyond the scope of work for me to every climb on a roof.

Tell them to get their own damn photos.

 

[Riick]

Photos of roof from rooftop level or above presumably NOT part of the original SOW.

THERE IS NO FREE LUNCH
An additional fee will be required for roof photos

That fee should equal your cost to hire a roofer to climb ladder,
inspect roof & take photos, PLUS a reasonable profit (20% ?)

No additional fee, No additional photos.


You might say to Mr./Ms. AMC:

• I never bargained for this as pert of the job.
• I'm running a business here to make a profit.
  
• I sell my time, knowledge and expertise.
• Doing what the Lender or more probably U/W wants eats up my time.
• I must charge for my time, otherwise I don't eat.
  
• Please remember, I'm a FEE Appraiser, not a FREE Appraiser.

/

 

[gregb]

My guess is the lender just wants proof of the C6 condition of the subject, before they turn down the property as unacceptable collateral.

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

This is where a drone could be handy.
$200 for a short video inspection, you draw your own conclusions, dear client.

 

[JAM]

This is where a drone could be handy.
$200 for a short video inspection, you draw your own conclusions, dear client.

Thank you all for your prompt response. I will tell them that the roof was not observable from the ground and that the roof photos are beyond the scope of work and based on an extraordinary assumption (since I was going off what the borrower / owner told me anyways from the hurricane damage). The borrower / owner pointed out the leak from the interior bathroom with a bucket collecting water from the leak, so I will also reiterate that again. I liked all of your responses and may add some of that as well. Much appreciated! Happy New Year!

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

I liked all of your responses and may add some of that as well.

Just don't use the snarky ones.

 

[Joe Flacco]

Tell them you don't go on roofs.