An Open Letter To Appraiser Wanna-be's

[Kim White]

You go, Kalum! I'll be right behind you so if we have to turn around and run, I'll be in front! Just kidding.

I'm with you....to heck with the na-sayers. Like I've said before, the I.T. industry left me high and dry after 20 years of hard work...how much worse could it get? (Okay, all you old timers quit laughing!)

At least I'll be doing something I enjoy getting up for. Maybe some of these people who are so negative should consider another profession (that should open a can of worms.) When I read some of the negative posts, I hear myself three years ago at the peak of my I.T. Managerial days (which were miserable)....guys & gals, life is just to short to be in that "place."

I know that ya'll are just trying to spell out what's happening in the appraisal market...but, honestly, us newbies can see it too. I would have done the same thing for anyone trying to break into I.T. - told them what direction was the best to head into. But, because we are new, we probably see and hear more than alot of the old timers who are complacent (not that they generally are or aren't.)

Now, Edward, I just read your post. I went on an interview with a small commercial company yesterday. Were out in California - Orange County area. They said they are down a bit, but they are busy enough to be hiring a few more people. Go figure. I'm still wondering if the things I hear are a result of the area your living in? Maybe it's worse on the east coast and slower to show up on the west coast? Some Appraiser told me the "upside" is in ten year cycles - I'm hoping he's wrong. Maybe if there is an increase in interest rates it will eventually fuel a foreclosure market?

Being new, it's sometimes difficult to decipher which Appraisers are being negative to eliminate the competition and which are genuinely attempting to guide you into greener pastures. And personally, all that does is drive my stubborn streak - I will be successful!!!!

So...to all us Newbies - let's band together and help each other be successful - poor, maybe - but successful none the less!!!

Kim.
Happy Vet's Day!!! :usa:

 

[Ghost Rider]

I've kind of been watching this thread on an off, and feel like it's time for me to toss in my $.02.....

I'm a Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser - I've been doing this for about 5 years now, and have gone through times when I hated the job, but more often than not, I love it. I can't imagine doing anything else these days. I recently left the "fee world" and started working for a large national lender as a staff appraiser. I'm in process of getting married, starting a family, etc., and don't have the desire to be at the whims of a market which goes up and down, and to try to scrape by paying for benefits, etc.....I was a great move for me.

When I got into the business, I was lucky. I had a good friend who was in the biz since the last 1980s, and he brought me in, showed me a lot, and I've grown from there.....The problem I have with MOST of the trainees who are trying to get into appraisal right now is all they know of the profession is what they saw when they got their home refinanced last, a guy came to their house, walked around for 20 minutes, took some pictures and left.....Well, that is NOT the profession, not even close. I would have stayed in the fee appraisal world if it hadn't been for the cut rate services offered by so many number hitters, and paid by the worst of the AMCs out there. It's getting harder and harder to be able to survive in this buisness for those of us with experience (and I'm a relative newbie compared to many of the appraisers on this board) let alone with the volumes of trainees who think they can tackle the world, and are making the field so watered down that the low fees start to sound good......

Those of you who are coming into the business, I wish you all the best, you have a LONG road to travel to gain the respect of your peers......This isn't a field where you will know everything right away, it's a long process of learning LOTS of things.....and we are all still learning every day.

 

[Harold Brubaker]

As someone fairly new to the appraisal profession myself, I really appreciate the words of wisdom and many recommendations from the seasoned appraisers. I hardly think the posts were meant to "ELIMINATE THE COMPETITION" ... and while I appreciate the optimism, enthusiasm and overall "bubble-headedness" of Kim White, I think she's looking through rose colored glasses...

A look at the newspaper gives a clear indication of the economy, the declining real estate market, and where interest rates are headed. Additionally, a look at this forum (and other similar forums) clearly show that the snowball is starting to roll down hill, and is gaining speed. It is projected that many licensed/certified appraisers will leave the industry in the years to come. Their leaving this profession doesn't necessarily "OPEN UP NEW SLOTS IN THE FIELD." Rather, those slots have been eliminated. It is a rough road ahead for someone first starting out.

To accuse these supposed "doom sayers" (posters on this forum) of 'eliminating future competition,' I think you should have your head examined. This forum is for NEWBIES/APPRAISER WANNA-BE's... If experienced appraisers didn't post on here, what would be the alternative?! You'd have a bunch of trainees posting here, patting themselves on the back, telling each other "how great things will be when [we] can get out from under the heavy hand of the 'evil mentor.' "


Brubaker

 

[Dee Dee]

Brubaker,
You're gonna make it if you can get a foothold in the current market.
You have exactly what it takes to be a good appraiser, which is the ability to gather together all available data, analyze the problem, step back and take a look at the bigger picture, throw out the irrelevant garbage, then draw your own conclusions.
Good luck to ya.

 

[Highlander416]

I agree that we are looking at a slow down that might last quite a while. The best advice many experienced people here have given me is to diversify. Many people looking to get into appraisal want to quit their full time jobs because they are miserable and start appraisal full time. That, in my opinion, could be a big mistake. A better option is to do a part time job along with appraisal. This will become even more the case as we move forward.

A couple jobs that come to mind are bartending, substitute teaching (per diem), landscape work and others like that. Many people I know who are general contractors look to places like Home Depot and grab part time work hours there. I am actually exploring that possibility right now. If you have a pick up, snow plowing is a good one too in the colder parts of the country.

The bottom line is that from what I read here and in other forums, appraisal will probably still be around in one form or another for a long time. However, I believe flexibility is the key. If I decide to work for Home Depot part time over the course of a few years, and appraisal turns out to be something that cant support me do to changes in the industry, I will have at least given myself a good foot hold in a company where I could conceivably jump to full time and do appraisal part time.

In appraisal, as in life, nothing is guaranteed.

Mike

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

Ditto what Dee Dee said!

Welcome Brubaker!

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

You are wise beyond your years Harold, no matter how old you are! Cool avatar, too!

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

Actually, I have been avoiding the newbie section. It just seems they don't want to hear the truth and I don't have any fiction to offer. I do read it though to get my jollies. :twisted:

 

[Harold Brubaker]

If a well-established appraiser is on the East Coast, how would it benefit him/her to discourage a trainee on the west coast from entering the field? <_<

I have heard from REAL ESTATE AGENTS -AND- LOAN BROKERS that appraisers work together to keep new people out... this is largely because of the 'buddy' system in the Real Estate field... (according to some I've spoken with).

Agent/Broker: "Hello. I have a friend who wants to get into appraising. Train my friend, and I'll make sure you continue to get business from me." (Translation: "I have a jobless friend that I don't want to hire.. will you hire him?"

When the appraiser says "NO, thank you." -- then that appraiser (regardless of the reason) is "overly concerned about competition." The reason MAY BE (as mentioned in an earlier post)-- it's a one man shop (pardon me, I want to be politically correct)... "It's a one (wo)man shop... work at odd hours. You're a night owl. You have no interest in training anyone." -- IT DOESN'T MATTER-- to everyone else, you're being a "NERVOUS NELLY."

Can't win.


Brubaker

 

[OCApp]

i agree. several times a week i get calls/emails from appraiser wannabees referred by top real estate agents in the area. i tell each one how tough it may be and then suggest they may want to get their real estate license which usually only takes a couple of weeks in calif. and costs very little.