Introduction

[jeff samolinski]

Hey Hey Everyone

Thanks for letting me in. Looking forward to the war stories.

Have been appraising for over 10 years now. Have been enjoying reading the posts and think its time we get together to weed out some of the crooks! Suggest we post list of our clients that do not pay or are slow paying on site for free as this is one of my biggest gripes. what say yee?

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

Welcome Jeff!!!

Please tell us where you are located so we can find you when we have a client that want's someone in your area.

This forum already has 2 sources for non-paying lenders. Clients: Good, Bad, Ugly is a forum section open to all members. The DeadbeatLenders section I believe costs $50 to join and has been a powerful force in getting some to pay up, letting you know which ones to make sure you get paid up front from, or to list those that have stiffed you. I have received payment from some just by threatening to add them to the DeadbeatLenders web site.

Plan on attending some Appraisal Board meetings in Orlando. VERY interesting and you get some CE credit. Well worth while!!!! Look forward to meeting you there!

 

[jeff samolinski]

VOLUSIA COUNTY

 

[Wally Jones]

Jeff,

Welcome to the Forum. We look forward to hearing from you often. Volusia?? Isn't that in Georgia? (Just kiddin'..........)

B)

 

[Jerry Still]

Another FloridaNewBee, Hello Everyone: I think your site is great! So much knowledge and experience to draw from. I wish we had somthing like this back when I was appraising in MI. I moved to the Cape Coral Florida area about two years ago from Plymouth Michigan. I have owned a RE/Max realty office, and been a partner in a mortgage brokerage in Michigan before finding burn out salvation by becoming a licensed appraiser about 12 years ago. I took a two year sabbatical from appraising when I moved to this beautiful sunshine state to buy a home and decide what I wanted to be if I ever grew up! Guess what...after taking AB1 and AB2, the powers in Tallahassee (DBPR) gave me credit for my MI experience and allowed me to sit for the Certified Residential Appraiser test and by the grace of God...I passed!! So this long dissertation brings me to the selfish reason for this post. In Michigan it was easy for me to transition to the apprasial busniss due to my past real estate and mortgage affiliations. But I'm in a new land and without connections. I did not even work under a senior appraiser as most of you did. I am curious as to what data sources in the Lee county Cape Coral area to use. Whats the best software. I am undecided as to calling on mortgage companies for business or to call on appraisal companies for employment. I feel it might be better to work for some one to learn the data sources and "learn the ropes of the area first". What do you guys think (help). Anybody from the Cape Coral area out there (Hello). I need to work...my girl friend and car payment are two months late! Thank you, Jerry

 

[Wally Jones]

Welcome to Florida and to the Forum, Jerry!

I don't personally know any appraisers in the Cape Coral area but I think one of our forum members, Dennis Black, is from that area. He may chime in when he has a chance.

I'm in Polk County and use Win2Data (Experian) and MicroDecisions for data sources, plus on-line county records and our local listing service. Don't know what's available in your area.

As far as software, if you'll scan the posts in the "Technical-Hardware/Software" section of this forum you'll get more ideas than you probably want!

I wish you the best and look forward to your contributions! Don't hesitate to ask if you have questions, because even though I haven't been helpful, others on here usually jump in and have the answers you need.

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

Wally's just trying to be modest!

Welcome aboard Jerry!

 

[Jerry Still]

Dear Wally Jones and Pamela Crowley, Thank you very much for your suggestions and welcome. I look forward to possibly adding to this great forum. A happy holiday to you both/all. God Bless America!!

 

[Judy Whitehead (Florida)]

I still recommend the Realtors Association for good contacts. Call them, find out what you need to do to join, then try to develop both Realtor and Appraiser contacts there. Also, if you join the local NAIFA or something similar you may find lots of helpful information there. When they had a chapter in my area, I went a few times until it was disbanded and they easily share information about data sources, etc.

Anyway, welcome to the Florida Forum. We have very active members, although we sometimes get too busy to post here!!

I am in Hernando County on the Gulf Coast and will certainly send anything your way that I may get. Usually, though, I get calls asking if I am anywhere near Ft. Lauderdale, or somthing

Anyway, I don't get to the FREAB meetings anymore as they conflict with another meeting I'm committed to, but I have been and they are extremely helpful and informative.

Oh, I use WinTotal by AlaMode and like it very much. Never have a problem and I have three computers hooked together and do quite a lot of EDI transmissions (cable, of course). We try to keep our computers "clean" and "junk free" and everything (knock on wood) runs real smooth.

 

[Jerry Still]

Dear Judy Whitehead, Thank you for your reply. I have heard some good things about Wintotal, but also that the learning curve is a little steep (as is the price?). But a lot of appraisers are using it. so it must be OK? I have a 4-5 year old Bradaford "Toolbox" program that don't EDI...and I'm not hearing anything good about their new program, so I'm ready to jump ship. I'm long overdue to up date. I've held back on a new software purchase as I haven't done an appraisal since I left Michigan two years ago. I agree that joing the MLS is a good source of comps and networking. I will join the Lee county MLS shortly. I just need to find a source of some business. Thank you, Jerry