Am I being ripped off???

[Randy Beigh]

Rebecca

Sounds like you have learned some valuable lessons from the short time on the forum. Congratulations.

As I said before, nobody can be used without the victim allowing themselves to be used, so it is a 2 way street.

If you have figured that out, maybe, you could sit down with the mentor and discuss a business arrangement that is more likely to work for both of you. The current arrangement sounds like it is weighted to take advantage of you and that is not right.

This may have gone to far and renegotiating won't work in which case, get out of there ASAP and get on with your life.

If that doesn't work, you can come to work for me and I double TC's bid.

 

[monicalight]

Rebecca,

Why dont you tell him/her to read the nice posts about all this and then maybe they'll come around! Especially "the punch in the nose thing" h34r:

 

[Patrick Soares]

Rebecca I'm sure the experience you received is good, but you need to cut loose. Sounds like your mentor is running a appraisal firm with a bunch of Malaysian kids working for him. Which is illegal here in the U.S. of A. :usa:

 

[Alex Peterson]

I feel for you Rebecca. I could say that at least you are getting paid something as rotten as your situation is, but that would minimize your suffering at the abusive hands of your appraiser.

My situation is even worse. I have been unable to find anyone else to take on a trainee other than the person I now have, who has never paid me anything. I have worked for this person for over four months and have watched this person gross over $11,000 in one month, yet my percentage worked out to exactly $0.

This person has even been unwilling to sign my experience log so far. If I help with an inspection, measure and draw the house, take pictures, photograph comps. etc., is it fair that I get NO experience credit toward my license because I did not do everything myself?

This system seems wide-open to abuse by rotten appraisers. Why don't I leave, you ask? If I could find someone else who would only fairly credit my experience hours, I would be gone in a heartbeat, not to mention the lack of any pay.

Sorry to sound so bitter on a first post, but I am totally at this person's mercy unless I can find someone else who would accept me (not very likely in this employment market). This appears to be a flawed system because it places 100% of the power in the appraiser's hands with no recourse to the trainee other than to walk out and end the relationship.

To all the appraisers who would ask "Why do my ungrateful trainees all leave me when they get their license?", I would say they should take a good look at how they treat their trainees if they really want the answer. Shame on them.

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

Alex,

Why don't you find another line of work? Why would you continue with this 'supervisor' if you're not getting paid and what you are doing is not going to count toward you appraisal experience????

If you can't find anyone else that wants a trainee in your market, the laws of supply and demand are working and there is no need for another trainee there.

Regarding your experience so far, how much work have you completed on the appraisals you've worked on? You DO have some 'power' in this area. If your name isn't listed in the appraisal report as assisting when you did, that's a USPAP violation!!! If you have inspected any of the subject properties without your supervisor and (s)he signed as the appraiser or "Did inspect" as the supervisor, that's a HUGE violation. Under these scenarios, it's past time for you to turn this jerk into your state board!!!!!

I'm relatively sure I would be way less than polite with your 'supervisor' after I cleaned out my desk and was walking out the door!!!!!!

 

[Farm Gal]

Alex:

Don't go the threat route unless you have
1. Concrete evidence to support your claim of having provided "significant material assistance" in the development of the report.

2. If you DO have evidence: your own workfiles, you sort of have the individual over a barrel. However by burning the barrel beneath them you *may* blackball yourself from continuing in the field, because you were then "Knowingly permitting a individual to act in an unethical manner".

3. I would carefully consider my position with respect to the outside world: as Pam mentions the biz IS in a slowdown.

4. I would then with great calm and presence, and a WHOLE lot of practicing in front of the mirror... go confront the 'mentor' with the news (which probably isn't news) that you are not happy with things as they are, and you desire a change to _________.{fill in the blank with your preferred solution to the situation, stated calmly and with an eye to negotiation}

5. Knowing that the above may result in a "don't let the screen door hit you on your way OUT" response, be fully prepared to document a substantiable complaint to the State Board, indicating exactly how many hours were worked, how many files given no credit and all other items of your concern EXCEPTING the pay issue.

The reason you are not going to get much sympathy is that the last time we checked slavery was outlawed in this country, and if your contract with this person is in writing precluding your freely walking out the door (non-competes, work area restrictions, etc...) you have cause for a lawsuit. Otherwise you can only be abused to the extent you permit the abuse.

Negotiate a better situation with your present mentor, Find a position where you CAN go forward, or give up on this profession entirely for the present.

Pick one. you don't sound happy as you are.

 

[Alex Peterson]

Thanks for the feedback.

I am sure that I will work something out with this person one way or another; I just don't want to use threats unless there are no other options. I just think that it is shameful that such abuse is possible under the present system. I'm glad this forum is here, I think there is a lot that can be learned from the advise of experienced people.

As for advising me to find something else to do, that's obviously always an option. And I've heard THAT advise from other people, but working my own hours and having the freedom this brings is very desireable. Every time I hear that I should just forget it, it reinforces the notion that appraisers are a group who eat their young. "If you don't like getting abused, then just quit" seems like great advice. It's like telling someone who is getting their foot stomped on to stop saying "Ouch" so loud. Sure I can always bail out, but how will I reach my goal by quitting?

When I get my license, and I will eventually, I won't take on a trainee unless I can treat them at least as fair as a minimum wage entry job would. To do less is a disservice to the profession. Those who take advantage of people in this situation prey on the hopes of the desperate.

Sorry to vent, but Rebecca's situation struck a nerve with me, as you've probably guessed by now...

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

Alex,

I do very sincerely hope you can negotiate something worthwhile where you are or can find another supervisor. Hopefully, your experience so far will help you find a postition with a different supervisor.

Good luck to you and let us know what happens.

Yes, the whole trainee issue is terrible!!!!

 

[Farm Gal]

Alex:

Few of us are trying to discourage you from getting a better mentor, If you decide to stick it out regardless of the venue, you will be atypical... hopefully you won't lose your honor or intent along the way! In this business climate it is hard to find a good one.

I won't take on a trainee unless I can treat them at least as fair as a minimum wage entry job would. To do less is a disservice to the profession.

Sadly that may be difficult to achive in an ethical manner: trainees COST the mentor. And place a hardearned livelihood at risk. We are about to enter a terribly punitive cycle of the biz. Seen it before. Heads will roll but not always the right heads nor for the right reasons.

Be careful out there. Trainee or mentor.

 

[Randy Beigh]

"This person has even been unwilling to sign my experience log so far."

Alex

What does this mean? Are you getting state credit for your work? If not, what are you getting from this relationship?

You are not in a typical situation. You and Rebecca are being taken advantage of, but no one can use you unless you choose to be used.

I am gathering that you are not doing a good job of communicating with your master. Think you should start asking questions, like what is his motivation, expectations, and what does he see in your future.

This is deplorable and I didn't know such situations existed.