>>Does anyone on this forum, believe that it is possible to properly train with this much distance between Trainees and Supervisor. << A question, I presume.
I suppose I have to ask a little syntax first. "Trainee" takes on a whole lot of different meanings and levels of experience. I have a "trainee" who has appraised for 3 different people since 1994. Lack of a license reflects her physical condition and the problems associated with the disease Lupus. -She rarely works over 15 hr. a week, doesn't feel well enough to take the test, and some of her drugs dramatically affect her memory. She took the test once, but missed by 2 miserable points. My other two "trainees" have 3 years experience. One sits for the cert. res. test next friday. The other has amassed the needed hours but the next test he can sit for in this state is in October.
The supervision required of these trainees differs markedly from the supervision one would foist on a real green horn. Secondly, the nature of my business, which is almost entirely NON-MORTGAGE CO. means the farms and properties I appraise may be 60 miles away or more.
USPAP does not require nor should it, distance or other constraints. I am sure that appraisers in the panhandle of OKlahoma for instance cover several counties and likely 3-4 states. It is hardly 40 mi. from Elkhart, Ks to Texoma, Tx across the OK panhandle. I found nary an appraiser in Boise City, and 2 CG, 2 CR, and 2 trainees in Guymon in my state list. Are we saying some parts of the nation do not deserve to be appraised? The panhandle is about 200 mi. long.
With the modern conveniences of fax, computers, (just like you & i can communicate across the nation in this site), what's the biggie about finding a supervisor? Many of the old heads don't appraise 20 properties a year themselves. Most of their time is spent checking their help's work. THAT is the important part. I spent 20 years living in Arkansas and working in Tx, Ok, Ks, and Co. Drove 60-80K a year as a consultant. I see no reason why a supervisory appraiser who does just that, could not cover the work of several far flung appraisers. If each appraiser did 2 reports a week, emailed a compatible file to the supervisor for inspection, the supervisor could examine it, edit it, and if required, drive to the property, look at it, and sign the report. driving 200 mi. in a day is no step for a stepper. Nothing in USPAP requires a personal inspection, and it may not be necessary so long as supplemental standards do not require it. i.e.- strike out that in the URAR form & certification, which everyone above appears to be married to....Have any ever done a narrative? I'd love to see you come into divorce court with a URAR.
I know a certified appraiser how appraises mines and minerals exclusively. Probably has about 20 - 30 assignments a year. Rules trying to force x no. of trainees, etc. are meant for SFR, but I venture in dollars appraised, the non-SFR appraisals are 50% or more of the business. And the implications above about how much, and what load a supervisory appraiser can or does do confound that 1/2 the business rather than improve it.
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