Do You Have Copies Of Your Appraisals?

[Alisa Ottaviano]

I print my form before emailing it to my mentor.

My mentor sends back a copy of the file in PDF format which I then print out.
This I use to compare the two reports for my errors.

I keep my photos on a diskette -- I use a Sony Mavica and that is how they
are taken. If I have room I can also store the form on the same diskette.

I've been toying with the idea of storing my reports on my website as an
extra precaution. Does anyone else do this? It would be in addition to
the hard copy and other supporting documentation.

What do you think? Oh, my ISP makes regular back ups too...

Thanks!
Alisa


PS: Happy weekend!

 

[Mary Tiernan]

Coincidentally, I just read the Board minutes from Michigan review board.

A trainee had her license denied and she appealed. Seems none of the reports she had submitted for review, or any of the reports she had actually participated in, had her name or reference of amount of work contributed.

I think this is one good reason for trainees to review all reports that go out the door.

License denied.

Just as an aside, several appraisers were rebuked by the appraisal board in Michigan for committing errors of omission or commission, failing to detail scope of work, and failure to "prominently state" summary limited, etc.

These appraisers were fined anywhere from $400-4,000 dollars, required to take a 15 hour USPAP class, and "other" relevant classes as determined by the board, and excluded from doing any review work. All assignments done by limited appraisers (trainees here in Michigan) must be done with the strict supervision of a licensed appraiser, including observation of the house.

These "restrictions" were placed on "skippy" for 1-3 years, depending on extent of abuse.

 

[Dee Dee]

Mary,

Thank you for that information!

That's only one reason why trainees need to SEE and HAVE A COPY OF the final report. What a terrible waste of time and effort it will be for the trainee if their log is audited and their contributions aren't acknowledged in the final report.

How can the trainee know if their supervisor isn't changing their reports and sending out misleading ones, quite possibly with the trainee's signature on it?

A good supervisor will explain any changes made to the trainee's rough draft, and be sure to acknowledge what contributions the trainee made in the report PRIOR TO sending out the final report. There is no excuse why a supervisor can't PDF a copy of the final report to the trainee, other than they don't want to adequately train or they are making changes that the trainee might object to.

I have to admit, I'm shocked that nearly half of the trainees who have voted on this poll have left themselves wide open to being completely discounted by their supervisors, or unwittingly having their names involved in potential liabilty claims. You folks need to educate your supervisors in order to cover your own butts, or find new ones!

 

[Smokey Bear]

A better supervisor sends the report back to the trainee to make the corrections requested so the trainee can learn from their mistakes, imho. At least that's how my supervisor did it, and if I had questions we'd discuss it first.

 

[Jon Liberatore]

I'm right out of school trainee. Do I need to sign the report. Do I need copies of the final report?


Jon Liberatore
jliberatore@comcast.net

 

[Lobo Fan]

I have a copy of everything as I sent it on for review and signature, but very few if any final versions. Usually if changes were required they were faxed back and resent.

I don't think this is the best answer, but it is the only answer I have.

 

[Walter Kirk]

Jon,
You should sign every report that you worked on and keep a copy of the whole work file, not just the report.

 

[TEL2002]

To protect your rear ends you must...........
1. Have in your possession, an accurate copy (paper or digital) of the signed, final report that was sent to the client.
2. Have your name in writing somewhere in that report. (Signature block or an addendum page.)
3. Have in your possession a log of every appraisal you worked on. (This should contain at a minimum, the address/date/type of report/hours spent on job.)
4. Not allow anyone to convince you that you really don't need these items.

If you don't have the above...start getting them right now!

If you don't think you need items 1-3 above, maybe you are not bright enough to be an apprasier.

 

[Imladaris]

I am a trainee and I had a falling out with my last supervisor when he refused to pay me what we originally agreed upon as my rate.

It is also of note that on all the appraisals I worked on, none of them have my name listed in the signature (which I initially put in and he removed) nor in the addendum stating I gave assistance to the appraisal.

I believe this is a violation of OREA rules.

Can anyone add to this?

 

[Kate]

http://www.appraisalfoundation.org/html/USPAP2005/ao5.htm

If the principal appraiser signs the certification alone, the contribution of the assistant must be acknowledged (Standards Rule 2-3, 6-8, 8-3, and 10-3), and the specific tasks performed by the assistant should be clearly stated as part of the scope of work disclosure required in Standards Rule 2-2(a)(vii), (B)(vii), or ©(vii); 6-7(j), Standards Rule 8-2(a)(vii), (B)(vii), or ©(vii), or Standards Rule 10-2(a)(vii), or (B)(vii); as applicable. If both the assistant and the principal appraiser sign the certification, the principal must accept full responsibility for all aspects of the appraisal process as evidenced by the contents of the report (See the Comment to Standards Rules 2-3, 6-8, 8-3, and 10-3, as applicable). In no circumstance is it appropriate for the principal appraiser to merely sign the certification in an appraisal report prepared by an assistant.

The responsibility of the principal for the work of one or more assistants is inherent in most professions. For example, lawyers use associates, paralegals, and researchers, but are ultimately responsible for the document presented to the client. Partners in accounting firms often rely on audit assistants and tax preparers but are ultimately responsible to the client for the audit or tax return.