Do It By Myself Or Not?

[Jim2014]

I am finally a certified residential appraiser, yea~~ What a long and tough road !
I am located in SF Bay Area, have been an assistant for a certified appraiser for 6 years, I get paid hourly, from start to now, even I am certified. After I am certified, I signed up few AMCs, but rarely received order from them.

If keep being an assistant, I can't even afford to live in Bay Area. I have been in low income for years! I want to do it by myself, but I am afraid that I have not enough experience and no order is send to me because of my new license.
My supervisor wants me to stay, so that he can assign me some assignments and pay me hourly.

What would you do? Any suggestions?
I feel like I became a certified at a bad timing.

Thanks

 

[jay trotta]

As always, limited info - so it depends;
Why is your supervisor not rewarding you for your achievement(s) ?? (some type of split fee ?)

Going on your own may be a challenge without a base of Clients

 

[Randolph Kinney]

Since you are not bringing in orders, you are dependent on your boss to give you work. You could try to negotiate a fee split, say 75% of the fee if you do all the work, for example.

 

[Michigan CG]

A lot of lenders won't touch you unless you have five years of being certified. If the old boss does not want to give you a raise go find a new boss that will appreciate your certification.

 

[J Grant]

Perhaps work out something with present boss where you work for them on a fee per order basis, and are free to get side work, or stay with them/any side work you bring in you get a higher split...or a part time job. Sorry it is so hard right now. FWIW, (unless you plan on getting a general/commercial license) FWIW California sounds like an extremely difficult place to be a res appraiser...unless one is established, an SRA able to get in with banks , or a great schoozer with RE agents. I have a good friend who appraises in san Diego, like so many she lost direct clients after HVCC, she had some good years after but the last 3 barely able to eke out a living. If I were younger and living there and had any options I'd look to move to a different state with more work and or better fees ( she tells me res fees have dropped there as well which is a terrible double whammy considering living costs there ). You might want to use the time to see if moving is an option...if not, get a strategy for bringing in clients, go for the SRA so you can set yourself apart, something...AMC;s pay little there from what she tells me though some works is better than nothing....best of luck try networking with RE agents.

 

[glenn walker]

Let's see you live in the Bay-Area - I have no idea how any appraiser can make it up there unless they have no mortgage or rent - I would stick with your current position and see if you can get a raise because you could go broke up there real fast

 

[Deleted member 152047]

Or find an SRA that specializes in litigation or some other specialty (high-end homes, etc.) to train under. I would look up all the SRA's within a 20-mile radius and get on the phone. Explain your position and tell them that you are willing to work. You will have a new job and potentially a new path in your career.

Don't give up, the good appraisers are looking for people. You just need to find the right person!

 

[Joe Flacco]

You did become certified at bad timing.

 

[J Grant]

can you apply for a county assessor or other govt appraiser job?

 

[Joe Flacco]

Tell him you would like a raise and that you would like to look for your own clients while you work for him. He probably will not like that but if he is a good mentor and wants to help you advance your career he would probably agree to that. If not it would at least open up a conversation about your goals and your future. If he is a reasonable person then you guys can probably work something out.