Google Maps

[Thern Newbell]

As to the picking comps thing, I just take my laptop with me in the field. Do my searches after I have been in the property. I just have this hang up about selecting comparables before seeing the property.

I agree with you. My initial statement probably wasn't worded the best, but it created some dialogue which helps to clarify the initial post.

 

[RSW]

Thern,

I just recently started using Google Maps to look at the area surrounding the subject. It is very good for FHA appraisals as I also use the EPA website too. I also print to pdf several comp selections which may be as many as 50-100 before I leave the office. If I can't find the sales I need, then I will drive around until I find an unsecure wireless network and log into the MLS and pull better comps.

 

[PropertyEconomics]

I just used both Google Earth and Google Street View for a property I am appraising which was torn down. My assignment was to appraise the property in the condition it was prior to being razed. No building plans, no inspection, no photographs.
Earth allowed me to approximate the size of the building and street view allowed me to have front, both sides, and a rear view of the building as it existed prior to being removed.
Both tremendous tools to me in this assignment. Mind you I have had to make a lot of extraordinary assumptions, but they are atleast based upon being able to "time travel" to when the building existed. How cool is that!

 

[Wayne Tomlinson]

My main subjects are farms. It is a great help now days to be able to look at the property prior to taking the trip.

I have sales data from many surrounding counties for farmland, but primarily it amounts to County PIN # , Section, twp and range, abreviated name of seller and buyer and little more.

By looking at various aerial map sources on-line it can symplify which farms to inspect and which to just ignore.

I can get an aeriel view from Mapquest, I can view a soil map from the USDA soil survey site which recently became availble.

Those are really great fuel savers.

After I have made those deteriminations then I can check the court house. In my area, the local MLS is a waste of time. Almost no farm land sells on the MLS, and in my county and several surrounding, MLS does not even exist.

Wayne Tomlinson

 

[Michigan CG]

Mr. Newbell posts about a good tool and a couple of Crusaders jump on him. No wonder we lose posters everyday.

I've used photos from Google twice to make a point with an underwriter. One was to show a 14 foot high barrier wall located a block away from the subject obstructing its view of a cemetery; and the other was to show the UW there were other ranch style homes on the street. It would have taken me 1/2 day to do that via car, and without compensation, I wasn't about to do it.

Just because we non-Luddites use technology to our best advantage, doesn't mean we do lousy reports.

TC

And no wonder there are people lurking who are afraid to post.

I have a hard time believing that most appraisers do not pick out comparables before they inspect the subject property in most cases, cookie cutter homes in typical neighborhoods especially.

That said, Google Earth is a wonderful tool. Some have subscribed to Google Earth Pro which has even more features.

 

[jonhig]

I like windows live search much better than google. You should check it out, you can do a bird's eye view which to me is better than the street view in google.
http://maps.live.com/

 

[RSW]

I like windows live search much better than google. You should check it out, you can do a bird's eye view which to me is better than the street view in google.
http://maps.live.com/

I just tried it and it is pretty good. Looks like it is a year or two old in my neighborhood.

 

[Riick]

Google Earth & Live View - both very helpful for reviews too.
You can SHOW the lender how close that truck terminal is to rear door of the subject.
...yes, the one that Skippy forgot to notice.
.

 

[Thern Newbell]

I like windows live search much better than google. You should check it out, you can do a bird's eye view which to me is better than the street view in google.
http://maps.live.com/

Thanks for the reference to that link. I just used the site to visualize some of the improvements behind the comparables I was using for an appraisal. Great tool!

 

[Lawrence R.]

Mr. Newbell posts about a good tool and a couple of Crusaders jump on him. No wonder we lose posters everyday.

I've used photos from Google twice to make a point with an underwriter. One was to show a 14 foot high barrier wall located a block away from the subject obstructing its view of a cemetery; and the other was to show the UW there were other ranch style homes on the street. It would have taken me 1/2 day to do that via car, and without compensation, I wasn't about to do it.

Just because we non-Luddites use technology to our best advantage, doesn't mean we do lousy reports.

TC

Yikes, a pot and a kettle suddenly spring to mind...