Can I do this no inspection appraisal and be safe?

[CANative]

Why would it be scary to go before a judge to defend my work if the work was for the client and was based on the information supplied by the client?

Besides, I know the area well and if she says there is a 1985 MH, 24 x 60, model XYZ by KrazyKoaches, an old 30 x 40 barn with a couple of stalls, an old garage and some wire fencing, that's probably enough information to go on to get a reasonably accurate MV opinion, given the otherwise cruddy information in this market. The only thing that would substantially change the MV opinion is extremely good or extremly poor condition of the house and with manufactured housing on a large parcel, the contribution is small.

 

[Timothy Wixted]

Take the money

Why not do it? Your client wants an estimate of value. Give her one. You certainly know your market and what you're doing. And if you were to defend your work in court, I am sure you would be well-prepared (and well-paid). It's certainly got to pay better than the appraisal of the house you posted a picture of the other day (the one with the unbuildable waterfront lot cut off by the street).

Tim

 

[The Warrior Monk]

Why would it be scary to go before a judge to defend my work if the work was for the client and was based on the information supplied by the client?

It wouldn't. But I doubt that the report would see the light of day in a courtroom. That's why it's important to have the attorney involved. What the person involved in the divorce wants and what is needed for court has in my experience been two entirely different things. Even if the person is knowledgable, they'rer probably going to miss something important.

 

[CANative]

Edited for my safety.

 

[Renee Healion]

Unless I read your pronouns wrong, this is not even a divorce case. At least with a divorce case, there is some long-established structure for dividing assets.

Sounds like it may be more like a what, palimony, case? Do you have civil union law out there? Sounds like a tricky deal all the way around.

Take the day off.

 

[Willie]

Greg, I have purposefully stayed completely away from divorce appraisals, and I would certainly stay away from the one you have described. They are the nastiest of situations. The only appraiser I know who has been shot was in the middle of this sort of domestic dispute. Just last year, my friend was threatened by one party to take him before the board and he didn't even know the appraisal was for a divorce, as he was lied to and told it was for mortgage purposes and was even given the bank name.

Should you proceed, you can leave nothing to interpretation or to be misunderstood, because there is blood to be spilled.

If both parties understand this, I would proceed.

 

[Timothy Wixted]

Sounds like it may be more like a what, palimony, case? Do you have civil union law out there? Sounds like a tricky deal all the way around.

Take the day off.

You have to remember, this is California.

Tim

 

[Charlotte Dixon]

Greg, Well we pretty much all think alike here. Although, there are appraisers making good money performing divorce appraisals and added to that, additional fees for court time ..... if they get paid. I've been to court twice for divorce appraisals, and it took 4 months each time for the attorney to pay me.

As for me, there are easier ways to earn an appraisal fee. To each his own.

 

[The Warrior Monk]

if they get paid. I've been to court twice for divorce appraisals, and it took 4 months each time for the attorney to pay me.

That's interesting.

I NY appraisers WILL be paid BEFORE they testify in court. The reason is that if the appraiser is not, it gives the appearance that the appraiser's compensation is dependent on what they say in court. Once I testified in Connecticut, and it was the same there.

 

[xm39hnu]

I wouldn't run from it. You can probably get enough information from public records, google earth, and MLS to do a credible report, as long as your scope of work and limiting conditions statements clearly set forth the degree of reliability and the quality of data used.

But coordinating with the attorney is a good idea, too. He knows what proof is needed, and can best judge whether an appraisal is financially feasible. I wouldn't bump the fee for a no-inspection report at this stage, but a lit-support report would be on the high end of the scale, say about $900-$1000.