Unfortunately its called billable hours, two years ago I did the estate appraisals for a local Family Law Attorney, who was well known in the community. Over the years I realized that 80% of all his clients were women and they all tended to brag about how hard he fought for them. He also had his all little gaggle of minions , otherwise known as hey my clients husband is a real dirt bag so get me some big numbers.
Funny: The one question I have been asked over the years is if I have ever been asked to do a low appraisal by anyone? I respond with yes probably 5 or 6 times and it was always requested by a scorned wife or lover who wanted to Bankrupt the no good dirt bag that she had caught cheating on her.
One was a Second or Third Trophy Wife of a Big Name Banker, who most everyone on here would know if I mentioned his name ( Clue ) he was Italian. She was a Hollywood Actress 25 plus years younger than him. Anyway his Trophy Wife's Attorney called me and I was all in until he mentioned what her last name was and I was like hey is that the actress and same wife of one of the biggest mortgage bankers in America ? The attorney says yes it's his sons wife. I am like OK but this is going to be a very large fee and paid COD. He says fine and gives me her contact number. Ring-Ring- Hello this is Such and Such -Hi MS -X I am the appraiser, She responds with Ok but first I have to tell you that his appraisal came in at around $6,000,000 and I want yours to be no more than $4,000,000. I am like Mrs-X it doesn't work that way, the value is whatever it is and- I cannot accept orders with pre-determined Values. She says fine sounds like my Husband or his minions have already paid you off and got to you . Then she says how much did he pay you to try and slip into my house ? I am like please I have never spoken to your husband much less received any payment from him or anyone else.
Anyway I called her attorney back and informed him that I could not accept the assignment. The attorney was cool and said no problem, I get it because She is a real high maintenance client but she also has a lot of money. This same attorney 20 years later ended up as a legal analyst at one of the major Los Angeles & New York Cable news channels.
P.S. I quit doing divorce or family law appraisals about 5 years ago, they can get real messy, and time consuming. I also only do Bankruptcy Appraisals when they are COD- Cash-no checks, no money orders hard cold cash.
