Am I being ripped off???

[Rebecca Heiman]

I have a unique situation where my superviser is a close relative. We measure the houses together, then I do the entire appraisal. I do ALL appraisals assignments that come to the office but get paid for 2 appraisals a month. I have been doing this for two years and am getting burned out & frustrated w/ lack of money. As a trainee, do I have to just tough it out til I get fully licensed or do I go drum up my own business & work til 3am on those assignments? Ugh! I'm wondering what I got myself into! Any suggestions?

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

FYI:

I read this post that was added to an older thread. The topic name is what I put on it.

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Personally, it sounds like you are being badly used!!!

How close to going for your own Certified license are you?

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

Who do we report "appraiser abuse" to? If you was a child, social services would be all over your mentor. It's time to have a "come to Jesus" meeting with this slug.

 

[Rebecca Heiman]

I am very close to getting certified but still feel like I need the expertise my mentor offers so I don't want to cut loose completely but just want my fair share.

 

[Randy Beigh]

Rebecca

What do you mean you do "all appraisal assignments" and you "get paid for 2 appraisals a month"? How many are you doing? This suggests that you are working for near free, is that correct?

What is your agreement with the trainer? Have you attempted to negotiate a different pay situation? If you have been working full time, you should have all necessary clock hours in and hopefully all of your courses, so you can take the test.

How close is this relative?

Last questions. Why did you wait till now to start asking questions about this arrangement? Did this sound normal when you signed on?

 

[Rebecca Heiman]

Yes I am working for near free. I knew (or had heard) that trainee's can expect to receive nearly nothing for a period of time. So when I began, it didn't seem absurd. Of course being in this situation for awhile, I began to resent it. This relative is too close to cause too much of a commotion, that's why I was trying to wait it out. I just didn't know what to expect for pay as a trainee. Guess I should've done some more checking before I began. I'm the sucker paying for it!

 

[Farm Gal]

Rebecca:
More importantly how close are you to being able to get your license/certification? you haven't answered that part of our inquiry...

If you have been doing ALL the work over a two year period it would seem that you ought to be getting close if not past the point where you have sufficient experience to acquire what you would need to go out intot the big bad world on your own.

Yes you have to pay your dues.

It would seem that you should be at a point where you ought to be able to negotiate a change. Or solve the problem another way thourgh becoming fully independant.

 

[Randy Beigh]

Yes, we all have to pay our dues, but indentured servitude is, usually, considered to be illegal.
In fact, I'm betting most states have laws on the books that require at least minumum wage be paid. This means that with a call to the state labor board, you could probably force this person to pay up for past work. This would mean that this "close" relative might not be so close after turning him in.

My trainees are treated a whole lot different than Rebecca was treated. The ones that are on their own, like Rebecca, are paid 40% and we pay the taxes as well as a few other things like supplies and equipment.

Yes, it can be difficult to get into this business, but there is no excuse for people being treated this way. This does cut both ways, though. There is no excuse to allow yourself to be treated to be this way. Nobody can use you unless you choose to be used.

I would get my license and head on down the road, leaving this close relative to be disgusted about training his competition. He deserves it.

Not much sympathy on my part.

 

[Rebecca Heiman]

Lee Ann...earlier I stated that I am very close to meeting my experience hours. Okay, well, I just didn't know how much other trainee's were getting paid. I am not paid hourly, but on a contract service basis so the law on wages doesn't apply. Thanks for all of your input!

 

[George Hatch]

Geez,

Paying your dues and working for family is one thing, but I've never heard of anyone working for that long at those fees. Enough is enough. I'm sure there's another fee shop somewhere close by from which you can pick up some paying work.

Anyways, your very first priority should be to gather up your records and copies of your work so that you can document your hours, even in the event that your supervisor later decides not to cooperate. It would be a real shame to lose those hours. Then after you have all that squared up, start looking for an additional shop, to help even out your 'education' and your workload. Eventually, you will probably rack up enough paying jobs that you can gradually ease your way out of this freebie gig.