Can I do this no inspection appraisal and be safe?

[Don Clark]

I agree!

Desk top appraisals are for some purposes a legitimate way to do an appraisal given a proper SOW, a knowledgeable client, and good information. My suggestion would be that when the person has an attorney who can get a court order for an interior inspection, then, and only then would I do the appraisal.

 

[Ron Mandato]

Stay away, no need for problems. Better safe than sorry down the road.

 

[Fred]

Grasshopper, when you can take a pebble (money) from your client's equitable distribution, before the lawyers get them all, it is time for you to leave the Autobus.

 

[Wendy]

Never do a divorce appraisal were you have even the most remote connection to either party. Too much potential trouble.

 

[Andy Taylor]

So you will be dealing with not only one woman who feels slighted but with two women who feel slighted, one of which is a Realtor. I would not only run but run like h3ll!! ROFL(can't seem to find the smilies)

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

Can you do it? Sure! Should you do it? Maybe. I always think of ... "where is my work going to end up?". Did someone actualy say..."this could get hairy?"

 

[Fred]

Did someone actualy say..."this could get hairy?"

Greg,
Maybe I did fall out of that thing and land on my head. I would be hoping the other side wants to contest the appraisal. The "hairier" it gets, the higher the fees.

 

[Ray Miller]

Gut feeling. Run like the wind, run faster the wind.

I would not do it, if I had contact with of the parties before.

 

[Red Blumenstock]

Greg,

I certainly agree with Richard and I agree with those who have said run. This is a no-win situation for you and such an appraisal would be useless in a divorce situation. I have completed well over 200 divorce appraisals and had a situation similar to Richard's although I finally told my assistant that we were leaving. All of a sudden the husband got quiet, but at that point I was disgusted enough that I told him I couldn't be unbiased and just walked away. The attorneys understood since drugs were at the heart of the divorce and I just said Whew! Am I ever glad I walked away. There is no fee worth the grief that this one could cause. Save yourself the headache.

 

[David S. Roberson]

I wouldn't do it as a desktop. Too many variables and too many unknowns. Would you feel comfortable in front of a judge defending the desktop appraisal? Especially since all of your information regarding property characteristics would be coming from your client, definitely not a disinterested 3rd party. I would wait for a court order.

Carolyn

I completely agree.