AI not smarter than Fernando (human appraiser)

[George Hatch]

We can already google those links and go directly to the original source instead of relying on a summary comprised of the winner of the average of the 5 most common responses.

This is what I saw
vs
This is what someone else saw, with which I agree (maybe I verified it and maybe I didn't; you'll never know)

They're both usable but they're not the same thing even if the results are similar. This circles back to the hybrid controversy.

 

[WestMichiganCG]

We can already google those links and go directly to the original source instead of relying on a summary comprised of the winner of the average of the 5 most common responses.

This is what I saw
vs
This is what someone else saw, with which I agree (maybe I verified it and maybe I didn't; you'll never know)

I was having difficulty finding zoning once and asked one of the AI's what the zoning was. It provided the link and it saved me some time. Sometimes it's useful. Usually I do a google search. I find AI most beneficial when I have it write a market analysis. It saves a lot of time. That said, I put a lot of time into market analysis that my clients don't really care for or ask about. It's part of my process to make sure I don't miss anything about neighborhoods that I'm not 100% knowledgeable about.

 

[George Hatch]

Related note

Back before CoStar bought out COMPS INC (commercial database) they originally sent out hardcopies of their content every month. We'd get a packet and break the pages down by where they went in the binders, which themselves were divided by property type and location. The process of breaking these pages down by category exposed us to seeing the data itself even though we wouldn't necessarily have use for it all.

Now with the query based searches we only see what we look for, not everything else that might be more indirectly related. It simplifies the search process and cuts down on research time but that expedience does have a cost.

 

[Dublin ohio]

If you are researching things, it will give you links to where it found the information. That's your verification.

One would think that an appraiser that regularly works and area would already know where to find zoning information. I have numerous bookmarks that take me directly to the zoning sights/maps of most of my area. Most of them all I have to do is enter an address and it takes me to the zoning for that property. Which then has a link to the actual zoning code.

 

[George Hatch]

Zoning is just one example. Like he said, distilling larger summaries into more usable highlights is a productivity hack.

 

[djd09]

zoning is typically simple...until you run into non conforming and illegal...then you have to call...and lately the zoning dept are becoming more difficult to get a straight answer from...and if they dont know and then you dont know

 

[Dublin ohio]

zoning is typically simple...until you run into non conforming and illegal...they you have to call

The last time I had to call for a clarification was at least 5 years ago when the published zoning code said no grandfathered use and subject could not be rebuilt. Something that was uncommon in my areas. Otherwise I just read the published code section that deals with non conformities.

 

[WestMichiganCG]

One would think that an appraiser that regularly works and area would already know where to find zoning information. I have numerous bookmarks that take me directly to the zoning sights/maps of most of my area. Most of them all I have to do is enter an address and it takes me to the zoning for that property. Which then has a link to the actual zoning code.

I've worked in areas that may average one commercial sale in a year. I gain geographic competency by researching. Sometimes the zoning map is tucked into meeting minutes from a township. I use AI as a tool not as a crutch. I work in areas that fall into the same category you are describing but rural commercial can be difficult to the point where you are calling up the Planning Department and having them email you a scan of their zoning map that is hand drawn.

 

[Fernando]

If you are researching things, it will give you links to where it found the information. That's your verification.

AI gave me a link to their zoning. I checked and the linked site said it's not in their city.
I go back to AI and said it's not in the city. Then AI gave me alternative and eventually I got the zoning.
I had to help AI to get the answer.

 

[Dublin ohio]

I've worked in areas that may average one commercial sale in a year. I gain geographic competency by researching. Sometimes the zoning map is tucked into meeting minutes from a township. I use AI as a tool not as a crutch. I work in areas that fall into the same category you are describing but rural commercial can be difficult to the point where you are calling up the Planning Department and having them email you a scan of their zoning map that is hand drawn.

I knew the above was coming. But since the OP does only residential as do I. My post was concerning typical residential situations