<span style='color:darkblue'>Everybody,
I have done some doozies myself. I've even gone way overboard at times. On a few of them, I use to kid that someone could almost build off of them. (Of course, I was just kidding.)
But now days, I always ask the property owner if they have any type of sketch of the improvements, sometimes I just say "property" because if they have a survey or even an old plat map handy, it might be of interest too for other reasons. But mainly I keep it general because they don't always know the terminology, and also, I want to see anything they may have. I ask on inspection about the sketch only if I forget to ask while making the appointment (so they have time to find it). Will they bother to look for it? You bet. You know a common question on the phone is "how long will the inspection take?" The answer: It depends on a couple of things such as whether I need to do a floor plan sketch. Did they ask because they are hoping the inspection will take all afternoon? Nope. If they have it, they will find it, and often have already made me a copy when I get there (or I will just borrow "the original," and be real sure to return it -- I have never failed, and sometimes use the US Mail, after all, I have a copy now myself in case the mail fails). I tell them on the phone that it would be helpful, but to only look if they think they can find it easily and conveniently, otherwise I tell them to forget it.
Blue prints are fine. I would normally rather go through the "reduce and tape" routine than to start from scratch on a difficult one (even an easy one sometimes). Sometimes there have been changes or additions since construction that I will be interested in knowing about. (I know one strictly commercial appraiser who offices in a high-rise and only appraises high-rises or large complex commercial properties who does not even own a tape measure!) For me, commercial buildings will often have an emergency escape floor plan posted everywhere on the walls. I have pulled them off the wall many times and then borrowed their copier, and then stretch a tape on the outside. However, sometimes what they have is just what I want and already in just the right size -- like from an old appraisal report !
Of course, I'm making the assumption here that everyone else also asks if the property has previously been appraised, and if so, that they make the effort to secure a copy of the report, Right?!
What? You don't ask!? You wouldn't ask!? And you wouldn't look at it if it was offered!?
How arrogant and irresponsible of you.
Is that not a serious USPAP due diligence violation somewhere? Somehow?
Surely you are not arrogant enough to believe that in at least one time out of, say, a hundred cases that another appraiser might have noticed something that you are about to miss? Right?
Would it not be a little irresponsible not to even make the effort to check and see? To look at the work of a state-certified colleague who has previously done exactly what you are currently doing -- inspecting the exact same property for an appraisal?
If there is an excellent improvement sketch in the report, is it not inconsiderate to waste the time of your client's client? Would it not be better to carefully check the layout and measurements than to start from scratch and then carefully check your own? Or if a super-difficult structure, would it not be irresponsible to intentionally miss the opportunity for a "second opinion" back at the office after yours is complete? If it is the trainee's first time out alone and you will not be helping with the measurements and calculations this time, would it not be a little inexcusably derelict not to have the trainee bring back such a creature from the inspection, if it exists?
You were about to rely on a trainee's work. Would you not have hired that very same previous appraiser (whose report you have in your hand) to do the sketch for you if he/she were available and offered their services real cheap? If not, I'd check the measurements particularly well. Twice.
Copyrighted issues here?
Naa.
You also get to fulfill your obligation to be up to date on what is typical and customary in your market regarding appraisal methodology and scope and etc., by occasionally observing the work product of your local peers.
What!? You've only been fulfilling this implicit USPAP requirement by studying the often faulty appraisal reports you're sometimes hired to review!? Tisk. Tisk.
But then again, if one is the type appraiser who cannot trust him/herself not to be unduly influenced by the possibility of seeing the valuation that another appraiser has rendered at some point in time on a property, they better forget about this post, because s/he may not be able to avoid seeing it, or avoid being told before s/he can remind the property owner to keep shut. For the same kind of reasons, they might better be careful handling property tax cards too. And also consider staying away from MLS listing sheets that may exist on the property -- current, and/or old ones.
In fact, if this kind of thing is such a problem to an apprasier, I would recommend they let all their clients know right from the start to be careful to never let on what the Contract Purchase Price is, for just the exact same reason.
Now, wait.
Hold on a minute,
let me think...
Nope, I take it back. Scratch that.
Now that I think about it, I know for sure that's a damn violation!
dcj
PS. My hard earned advice? When possible, I spend my time and energy appraising, rather than drawing. Just my opinion. On second thought though, see the following for my revised opinion...
PSS. If you thought this was a horrid post, surely you understand that I was just kidding again; If you thought this post was insightful and helpful, your welcome!</span>
