Experience logs?Please help me

[melissa995]

I work in a rural area and I am a trainee. I have driving over 38K in the past eighteen months inspections and comparables. I turned in my work logs to my mentor for him to sign-off. I have completed 165 appraisals and have about 2300 hours. HE SAID DRIVE TIME AND ARE NOT INCLUDED in work logs and if I turned them in I would have to start all over from scratch. I would have never taken some of these assignments if that was true. I would have just found someone that wanted me to type reports.
My questions is this true?
It there anything I can do? I'm in tears
Any recommendations?

 

[Mack McClain]

I would count the drive time. Typing, comparable searches, inspecting the subject, inspecting the comparables; its all experience. How do you count the time it takes you to inspect the comparables and not count driving?

Im a Certified Residential here in Georgia. Things may be a little different in Colorado. I haven't logged hours in a while. But, I would count the drive time. Unless, you're talking about 8 hours per appraisal. The Appraisal Board would probably frown on something like that. How many hours do you have logged for a typical appraisal?

 

[Smokey Bear]

Drive time IN THE SUBJECT NEIGHBORHOOD, and while shooting comps can be claimed. "Commute" time is not claimable. I used to drive 90 miles to my territory, I never thought I could claim the drive too and from, which was why I'd schedule 4-5 appointments in one day, then go home and write reports for a few days.

 

[Mack McClain]

I didn't see the numbers you provided in your post.

2300 hours / 165 appraisals = 13.93 hours per appraisal

Thats seems like a long time per appraisal.

Here is Georgia, your experience has to stretch over atleast a two year period. Is it that way in Colorado?

 

[Metamorphic]

I didn't see the numbers you provided in your post.

2300 hours / 165 appraisals = 13.93 hours per appraisal

Thats seems like a long time per appraisal.

Not for rural appraisals. When you're spending hours looking at a 15 miles radius to find comps then driving all over that area to take pictures of them, its pretty easy to burn up 6-8 hours on field work, 6-8 hours of research and report writing on top of that is not and excessive number; particularly if you're writing a good report.

Plus I think its important to remember that the regulations dont require that trainee's do the work in the most efficient way possible. For instance, If I have a wild idea about some sort of graphing or analysis that might work for a particular problem, I peruse it....even if it takes many many hours....after all I'm TRAINING! Plus I'm being paid in hours, not by the report. If I think of a better way to write or explain something I'll spend hours working on it and word smithing it till it sings. I take extra time to write and re write my quick lists. I'll actually spend time looking at at market data trying to derive my own adjustment backup. My goal is to learn as much as I can from each assignment, not complete it as fast as an appraiser should.

I also dont have any problems billing drive time because since my supervisor actually works with me, we're driving together and discussing the assignment, the comparables, adjustments, neighborhood, etc etc as we go.

If your supervisor was not with you and he was signing on the left he shouldn't be questioning the appropriateness of your logs.

 

[CGgonnabee]

Check with your state board. In Virginia, the max experience hours you can claim on a residential report is 8 hours, land appraisals are max 20 hours. I am sure that there were many jobs that involved substantially more hours than I could claim. I think it is just the nature of the beast.

I work in rural areas...I get lost lots...I decided long ago to just enjoy the beauty of it all. I have some great photos that have nothing to do with my work.

Recommendations: Always carry water and fruit...and a crossword puzzle book. Enjoy the scenery...you will go places your children will never see.

 

[Blueprint]

My questions is this true?
It there anything I can do? I'm in tears
Any recommendations?

Talk to DORA. They are the ones who can provide you with the best needed info that you request.

 

[melissa995]

I didn't see the numbers you provided in your post.

2300 hours / 165 appraisals = 13.93 hours per appraisal

Thats seems like a long time per appraisal.

Here is Georgia, your experience has to stretch over atleast a two year period. Is it that way in Colorado?

I'm not wanting to be certified which takes two years, just liscenced which is 2000 hours in one year period. A few of my appraisals are commercial.

 

[melissa995]

They said they do not have a set hours for the appraisal process, In Colorado It takes as long as it takes

 

[Blueprint]

I'm not wanting to be certified which takes two years, just liscenced which is 2000 hours in one year period. A few of my appraisals are commercial.

Go for Certified!!! Do what it takes to learn about appraising a few multifamily complexes. It ain't gonna kill ya. You have a mentor, hopefully Certified, on your side.

You will benefit down the road through maximization of such a short period of time. You will ultimately have access to more work and appear more respectable to many potential lenders down the road being Certified. This day and age, it should not even be a question.