Documenting Trainee Hours-

[Suzanne K Hansen]

Hi All,

I'm compiling my worklog for appraisals thus far completed. In California, does anyone know how trainee hours are documented and which hours are acceptable for the license? My early appraisals took days to complete as I mapped out everything, made pairwise comparison tables, etc. Now with a few more appraisals under my belt, I'm completeing easy appraisals in a few hours.

How many hours per appraisal are acceptable for recording in the log? What kind of hours...driving, research, phone work to get info, as well as putting it all together and proofing it.

I sent an email to the California State Office and got a "we don't take email questions anymore" back from the state. So I'm hoping someone out there can give me some hints on how to put together my log so that it is correct and so that it is appropriate for the state's acceptance.

Any comments would be helpful.

Thanks,

Suzanne

 

[Terry Russell]

Suzanne,

I would start here "www.appraisalfoundation.gov". From there you can access the info you need.
tr

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

My state says actual hours can be entered on the log. If it took you 8 hours initially, indicate it. You should show time improvement as you become more experienced. Four to Five hours for a typical appraisal would be considered normal once you are experienced.

Here is what I have found over the years.

.5 hours prep, receiving the assignment, starting the file, pulling public record and researching MLS.

.5 hours traveling to assignment

.5 hours for inspection

.5 hours driving comps (if all local)

1.5 hours doing the appraisal to include thought process, preparing the form, handling the photos, doing the drawing.

.5 hours printing reports, billing, emailing, mailing, etc.

.5 hours for handling calls from lender, underwriter, borrower, real estate agent, etc.

This is for an experienced appraiser working on your own.

 

[Leigh Lindsay]

Wow, my first post...hope it's helpful~

The Appraiser Licensing Requirements Handbook located on the CA OREA website states... (pg 19)

"...The log must contain, at a minimum, the following information for each appraisal...:"
*"Number of hours spent performing the appraisal;"

I would interpret this as the grand total hours. I personally don't log it by each task, but keep the specifics in my own personal records in case there is any question, putting the grand total for that specific appraisal the appropriate column.

Here's the link- I have this handbook printed out and refer to it ALL the time... ALSO The actual appraisal log also lists instructions on page 3.

http://www.orea.ca.gov/forms/Lic_Hdbk.pdf

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

Welcome to the forum, Leigh!

 

[Michael T. Hiester]

Can't speak for California, but in Indiana.....

there is a matrix the state uses. This chart indicates creditable hours per type of report. For instance:

Single Family, Complete Summary = 4.5 hours
Single Family, Limited Summary = 3.0 hours
Multi-Family Complete Summary = 9.0 hours
Multi-Family Limited Summary = 6.0 hours

etc. etc.

 

[Bemis Pownall]

.5 hours for handling calls from lender, underwriter, borrower, real estate agent, etc.

Only in a perfect world. .5 hours is on the low side unfortunaletly. :evil:

 

[Anonymous]

Michael,
Does Indiana have any hours listed for commercial appraisals?

 

[TEL2002]

Mike,

Does Indiana recognize that it may take longer than 4.5 hours to do a report?????

6 hours ago I did an interior for a 2055. It took 1.5 hours, and I did not waste any time. Still have to do the comps, write the report, etc.

Why not log actual hours. some might be quick and dirty, some be long. They are what they are.

 

[Michael T. Hiester]

Indiana does have commercial appraisals on their matrix. I only listed a few examples. If anyone wants the matrix, I could probably type it up and email it. Just let me know.

The state doesn't recognize if it takes longer to do an appraisal than the 4.5 hours (for a complete summary). I am logging my actual hours and countable hours for my own knowledge. One can obtain some hours/credit through other than appraisal work (i.e. Ad Valorem, etc.) but that is very limited.

I don't know how the state came up with the hourly matrix, but at least I know what to plan for. I assume the hours allowed are an average based on some complex mathematical computation drived through actuarial majors.