Do It By Myself Or Not?

[Terrel L. Shields]

hat's because all you need is money for gas to put in your tractor.

...I put diesel in my tractors...gas is not good

My crew were independent, (except my assistant) had their own software, office, computer, and own MLS, license, etc. So basically I was drawing a referral fee from them since I had an overload of work. My contribution was minimal for the experienced ones. I only signed the ones where the client wanted my signature. But even in training I paid 50% because they would have starved out otherwise.

 

[ValueArtist]

You can get a CDL (Commercial Driver's License) and make more money per year than a top licensed commercial real estate appraiser, with only a fraction of the effort.

 

[Basically Rectangular]

That's because all you need is money for gas to put in your tractor.

That's just funny.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

You can get a CDL (Commercial Driver's License) and make more money per year than a top licensed commercial real estate appraiser, with only a fraction of the effort.

The president of our local appraisal group did just that as a team driver with his wife for 2 years. Nice truck, automatic transmission, decent pay but not as much as you might think. So he is back doing appraisal full time.

 

[Basically Rectangular]

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

First of all congratulations! You can't control the timing but you got certified. I think that with 6 years of being an assistant you have great experience.
It is tough at first and certainly now since the market seems a bit slow but I would stay on where you are now and at the same time try and pick up your own work, if that would not conflict or compete with your current company. It is a competitive business so if you can deliver reports quickly with time you should be able to pay your phone bill and have Chipotle at least twice per month!

 

[Mark K]

You can get a CDL (Commercial Driver's License) and make more money per year than a top licensed commercial real estate appraiser, with only a fraction of the effort.

That's nonsense.

Much more effort, more wear and tear on your body, and the money is about the same as an average residential appraiser, that's if you work for a trucking company.

Maybe if you buy your own $150-$200K tractor w/sleeper and spend 6-7 days a week on the road you can make decent money but your family life will be non-existent. Not to mention the mind-numbing tedium of sitting behind the wheel in traffic for 10-12 hours a day.

Someone's been watching (and believing) too many daytime TV commercials.

 

[ValueArtist]

you can make decent money

...and with less effort to hit the ground running, in contrast to: Bachelors, 3000hrs of exp, 300hrs of courses ETC. However, both RE appraisal and courier services are in jeopardy of being automated if only the greedy ones can crack that nut open.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Much more effort, more wear and tear on your body, and the money is about the same as an average residential appraiser, that's if you work for a trucking company

Actually the new rules keeps truckers off road more than necessary. But some top drivers make very good money, well into 6 figures. And there is a crying need for drivers in the oil patch hauling equipment or disposal water. You can nap or read a book while the truck is unloaded. Not long haul stuff. And most trucks ride quite well. Those automatic transmissions are slick and are different from car automatics. These are manual transmissions with a computer controlled shifting mechanism that will never grind gears but a good 10 or 13 speed transmission isn't bad. You may have to get the hang of double clutching though.

Some people prefer the isolation of driving. You always hear of drivers who retire and then get a divorce because their spouse cannot stand you 24/7.

 

[Ariba]

Califonia is a big state why stay in SF?

 

[TRESinc]

You can get a CDL (Commercial Driver's License) and make more money per year than a top licensed commercial real estate appraiser, with only a fraction of the effort.

and have the opposite of what an appraiser has - namely the ability to work at home on your own hours. given the choice i would gladly accept less pay to work from my home than to be stuck in a semi cab all day and night somewhere in the country. no way would i ever shower at a gas station.