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Any Suggestions On How To Find A Mentor?

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Thanks Red. Appreciate the thoughts and advice. Regarding doing practice appraisals on your own, do you need appraisal software for that? I know it’s all possible manually, but to get it in a format where it can become a part of a portfolio I can use to sell myself to a mentor, do I need software to make it look finished and professional or do you think manual is ok? Any suggestions on less expensive software for us trainees to tinker with until we get a real gig?
 
Thanks for the honesty bnm. However, you misunderstand my intentions here. I in no way think it’s going to be easy. I have a side investment that is making more and more money and requires less and less of my time as I go. Eventually, it will be purely passive income, which is great and I’m very lucky in that regard. However, I’m only 43. I’m going to need something challenging to keep me going and maybe make some money as well. I think appraisal fits for me perfectly.

I think my point about part time was in reference to the volume, not the level of effort. In other words, I’m not going to press for large amounts of volume mostly because I won’t have to. Doesn’t mean I think it’s going to be simple.

One thing I’ve learned is that self employment careers that can be stressfull when it’s a sole income can be much more rewarding when you don’t necessarily have to push your volume to pay your bills.

From that perspective, why couldn’t it be a part time career? Appreciate your thoughts here...
 
This is the least expensive formsware program that I know of.

http://www.homeputer.com/

If you can figure out how to use this setup on your own then that would be a strong indicator to others that you're self-motivated and are willing to work your way through the challenges in front of you without needing excessive hand holding. You want to be trainable (and not stubborn or oblivious) on the one hand, but you also want to be the person who rarely needs things explained to you more than once.
 
HTPA said:
I just completed my 75 hours of training courses. Now I have the task of putting in my 1000 hours of training. Of course, now I need to find someone I can hopefully do an apprenticeship with. I live in Ocean County, NJ. Anyone have advice on a good way or place I can find a dedicated mentor? Thanks in advance!
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Persistence 101.
 
Ucbruin- you know I had an opportunity for an appraisal trainee position at a large bank. From what I’ve seen, it’s the best way to go for training if you can get it, dedicated trainer, covers all costs of certs, and they actually pay and want you to get certified. Of course you have to be able to work full time for scraps. Definitely something to look into down the road for me but couldn’t afford it when the opportunity rolled around....

Riick- yeah I figured it was weak but really as a student I’m looking for as cheap as I can get and still get a somewhat professional output. Speed/efficiency really doesn’t matter because I don’t see me doing more than a couple a month so that I can build a portfolio...
 
WillWorkForTraining said:
as a student I’m looking for as cheap as I can get
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You might want to consider doing them by hand initially. Then, most of the software vendors have demo versions that you can access for free for a brief period. You could use this demo/evaluation period and type in what you prepared by hand. Just a thought ...
 
WillWorkForTraining said:
Ucbruin- you know I had an opportunity for an appraisal trainee position at a large bank. From what I’ve seen, it’s the best way to go for training if you can get it, dedicated trainer, covers all costs of certs, and they actually pay and want you to get certified. Of course you have to be able to work full time for scraps. Definitely something to look into down the road for me but couldn’t afford it when the opportunity rolled around....

Riick- yeah I figured it was weak but really as a student I’m looking for as cheap as I can get and still get a somewhat professional output. Speed/efficiency really doesn’t matter because I don’t see me doing more than a couple a month so that I can build a portfolio...
Click to expand...

Couple of things to consider....
1.Several posts from AF members who went through trainee/mentor period have mentioned working for peanuts...
And
2. Hopefully a large bank will have steady appraisal volume so trainees can obtain required hours....
 
WillWorkForTraining said:
One thing I’ve learned is that self employment careers that can be stressfull when it’s a sole income can be much more rewarding when you don’t necessarily have to push your volume to pay your bills.

From that perspective, why couldn’t it be a part time career? Appreciate your thoughts here...
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(my bold) I definitely agree with this

Thankfully as I was coming through as a trainee, my wife was employed full time and the bread winner, so it allowed me to not have to worry so much about the $$$ but about becoming an appraiser, which was what I wanted to do

That being said, your second part ("why couldn't it be a part time career?") I guess it can be and has been for many over the years. Maybe I was a little quick to respond yesterday, but that was my "off the hip" response. I think mostly because I get my chops busted a lot by people (even many friends) who think all we do is "drive around all day, make your own schedule, just take pictures, spend 20-30 minutes at a property and are over paid" ... We are professionals. We have spent literally years to get where we are. So whether part time or full time ... Just don't forget what it took to get there
 
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