Frank Bertrand
Junior Member
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2002
- Professional Status
- Certified General Appraiser
- State
- Pennsylvania
You know that dejvue feeling: pulling into the driveway, I thought to myself, "i've been here before." Sure enough a familar face came out of the plastic shrouded porch towing 2 kids with her. Yes, I said, I did your farm
about 5 years ago. Did anything change?
No, it was the same dump. Yet on the kitchen table there were 5 appraisals, YES, 5. I said you've had quite a bit of value opinion on your place. Why another one?
"well, we are trying to refinance again. We've had 3 financings in the last 3 years, and we want to lock in a lower rate."
I started my inspection, silently patting myself on the back that my camera had 44 pictures left, and I figured to use them all. So I started and the husband and wife each had a appraisal report with them, telling me I didn't I didn't have to inspect since all the data was in these reports. They told me the condition of each room--wildely optimistic I might add--from each appraiser (out of the area number hitters). When in the living room that doesn't have a ceiling it in, I asked what the remarks made.
1 appraiser said the ceiling was tenatively repaired (it is 50% open to the beams), the second said "small area LR ceiling to be remediated"
It went downhill from there:
major bath is just roughed in and it was that way 5 yrs ago, they have it stripped to the outside clapboard and you can see daylight.
all fixtures in boxes. Soooo
Appraiser 1: "major renovations virtually complete with new vanity, toilet and whirlpool bath"
Appraiser 2: "Client in final stages of major renovation in upstairs main bath which reflects well on home's upgrades to kitchen and baths"
So they followed me around from room to room, pointing out how their house should be. I am always polite, especially when there are 2 German Shepards growling behind a well scratched util room door.
finished taking 32 pictures gave em a pen and left, shaking my head again. So it goes...
about 5 years ago. Did anything change?
No, it was the same dump. Yet on the kitchen table there were 5 appraisals, YES, 5. I said you've had quite a bit of value opinion on your place. Why another one?
"well, we are trying to refinance again. We've had 3 financings in the last 3 years, and we want to lock in a lower rate."
I started my inspection, silently patting myself on the back that my camera had 44 pictures left, and I figured to use them all. So I started and the husband and wife each had a appraisal report with them, telling me I didn't I didn't have to inspect since all the data was in these reports. They told me the condition of each room--wildely optimistic I might add--from each appraiser (out of the area number hitters). When in the living room that doesn't have a ceiling it in, I asked what the remarks made.
1 appraiser said the ceiling was tenatively repaired (it is 50% open to the beams), the second said "small area LR ceiling to be remediated"
It went downhill from there:
major bath is just roughed in and it was that way 5 yrs ago, they have it stripped to the outside clapboard and you can see daylight.
all fixtures in boxes. Soooo
Appraiser 1: "major renovations virtually complete with new vanity, toilet and whirlpool bath"
Appraiser 2: "Client in final stages of major renovation in upstairs main bath which reflects well on home's upgrades to kitchen and baths"
So they followed me around from room to room, pointing out how their house should be. I am always polite, especially when there are 2 German Shepards growling behind a well scratched util room door.
finished taking 32 pictures gave em a pen and left, shaking my head again. So it goes...
