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Hello & Update

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Ed

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2002
Professional Status
Certified Residential Appraiser
State
Pennsylvania
Hello Forum "Newbies"!

I've started my apprenticeship/trainee full time. I know it's still new, but I really enjoy it. The hours are to be expected and Saturday inspections are OK with me. It allows me time to get the work done Monday-Friday.

It's extremely detailed oriented and I get a kick out of being able to prove my opinion. I've already had some tuff Appraisals to work on. (1 bedroom ranch, on slab, in the middle of "tim-buck-to", on 3 acres) My trainer wanted me to get through some difficult ones as best as I could, so I could learn to appreciate the simpler ones. Plus it's good training!

I'm only 2 months into it and I'm on a pace of about 4 Appraisals per week. Some of the more difficult ones take alot longer, but with assistance, I've managed to get them done.

I've made many mistakes and will probably continue to do so, until I'm "up to speed", but I've learned alot from those mistakes.

I'm enjoying it and I plan to work towards becoming Certified in a couple of years.
 
That's great news. It's good to hear how much you enjoy it. When you first started did you just follow around or did you actually get to work along with him? I haven't started my training yet but I hope I get to train with someone like you've found. I've just gotten some sample software from a couple companies so I can practice doing appraisals and get familiar with the forms. Tomorrow I'm going to one of the courthouses near me to see what I can find there. Then I'm going to find someone to look over my work and give me some constructive criticism. I'm pretty familiar with pulling comps and getting info from the assessor's office already, but that's about as far as I've come. Now that you've begun, do you have any tips that you think would help me before I actually start training with someone? What do you think has given you the most trouble since you've started? I really would appreciate any advice you could give me. Thanks
 
I don't know how much "advice" or "tips" I can give you, but I'll try.

1. Do not ask questions during the inspection process. Ask them in the car when finished or before you get there. You will get a chance to ask during the inspection, but your trainer will be focused on his/her work, so don't complain about a cold shoulder when inspecting properties.

2. Print out the 1st two pages of your Appraisal and proof it before your trainer looks at it. You'll catch a lot more type-o's and mistakes this way.

3. Do not feel a question is a stupid qiestion. Ask,Ask,Ask and take notes on clauses and disclaimers that goes into an Appraisal and keep them in a file.

4. Keep your finished Appraisals in a file so you can go back and refer to them. You'll never get it the first time. Also, you'll be faced with different situations all the time, so keep them as a "cheat sheet".

Good Luck!
 
Ed

The advise and tips you gave are right on. I just have 1 more to add do not be affraid to make a desicion and see if you are right. I personlly would prefer someone figure somthing and be wrong than not to try.

But sounds like you are doing good, keep up the good work.
 
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