Freddie: MLS Photo

[djd09]

Realtors are in the business of selling houses. The MLS photos will never show something about the house that is bad. I have learned many things from actually stopping my car and inspecting the comps from the street. Last year one really stood out. The third layer of roof was terrible and the home needed a complete removal. You will never seen that severe oxidation of the aluminum siding from the MLS. You will never seen the SW side of the barn that is one big piece of chipping wood.

But you will call them to verify data. Interesting. You are good at the three ball trick.

 

[BRCJR]

But you will call them to verify data. Interesting. You are good at the three ball trick.

I have to admit that is a very good point.

Don't trust them to show it like it is in a picture but trust them to tell it like it is.........

 

[DTB]

I have to admit that is a very good point.

Don't trust them to show it like it is in a picture but trust them to tell it like it is.........

I have always had a hard time understanding how we confirmed things with a (possibly) confirmed liar.

 

[DTB]

I understand the need to drive comps for some appraisers that work a large geographical market. I was able to stay within 2 dozen or so zip codes. Little to no surprises for me. YMMV

As I have stated before, I did not learn anything from 99% of the time driving comps, the other 1% yielded info of minimal value.

I would not drive them were I appraising today with this rule in place.

 

[timd354]

But you will call them to verify data. Interesting. You are good at the three ball trick.

Agents are typically more than willing to tell you all about the negative things with a property after it sold, but are much less willing to disclose a lot of negative things regarding a property in a MLS listing.

 

[residentialguy]

Don't trust them to show it like it is in a picture but trust them to tell it like it is.........

Agents are typically more than willing to tell you all about the negative things with a property after it sold, but are much less willing to disclose a lot of negative things regarding a property in a MLS listing.

Exactly Tim.. You can ask the listing agent what those upgrades mean and when the updates were made. Plus you have the selling agent that typically tells it like it really is.
Not verifying has the same lame excuses as not inspecting the comps from the street and taking photos...it's just appraisers cutting corners for speed (or laziness) and not doing their job.

 

[TRESinc]

Agents are typically more than willing to tell you all about the negative things with a property after it sold, but are much less willing to disclose a lot of negative things regarding a property in a MLS listing.

so true. called once to verify a comp with an agent. the MLS listing stated it had a finished basement complete with bathroom and of course all my other data sources said 100% unfinished. called the listing agent to verify and asked how much of the basement was finished. the response was priceless - well, it's not really finished at all. they painted the CB walls and put a couple remnant pieces of carpet down. the seller had installed a urinal right next to the utility sink and washer/dryer, no walls, no privacy, just a urinal attached to the wall.

 

[DWiley]

I would not drive them were I appraising today with this rule in place.

So, even though you sign a certification certifying (swearing) that you had driven by the comps, you would just use MLS pics and not drive them?

 

[DTB]

So, even though you sign a certification certifying (swearing) that you had driven by the comps, you would just use MLS pics and not drive them?

Yup, because I have seen every property in my market and been in a very good percentage of them. Much of my market was high rise condos as well, going to see much from a drive by?

I probably still could tell you what style house and if there are any adverse externality from any address one would throw at me.

I personally do not think the drive by inspection from the street is tied to the effective date.

 

[Pittsburgh Pete]

"I viewed the sale from the street at some point in time over the past several years!"