Is It Super Slow Or What?

[Ray Miller]

No doubt this is the last week for me in residential appraisal work. I pulled the plug the first of April, took all the signs off my truck. Started cleaning out my office, storing all my work files in the shop. As of Friday all the phone lines will be dead as the fax line is now. Appraisal web site will change to just livestock/equine, personal property, ag equipment appraisals, next week with new phone number and new email address.

But April has been fair, 3 ERC appraisals, two 2055-1996 Interior, one farm for personal property/ real estate/ livestock, one insurance horse (2 in auto accident), one farm pre-foreclosure. Got a call Friday for a rural REO Farm, but had to turn it down as well. Not enough time to complete it now.

Bid out a bunch, but my fee and turn times were not what the market is, so they went else where for $50 to $150 a pop.

 

[Verne Hebert]

Killed our phone and fax lines first of April. Moving out of office end of next month.

Ray, take a look at the Dodge Sprinters, 2006 or older have a 5 cylinder mercedes benz diesel. 25mpg at 75mph. You can get them built out as RV's. Great asphalt runners.

I am going to purchase on autotrader.com and pick it up. I am thinking September/October trip up the Alaskan Highway with a fishing rod and a shotgun. Cheap trip and fun!

These also would make great mobile offices boys and girls.

"...............and the times they are a changin'."

 

[Judy Whitehead (Florida)]

Be careful on that drive - I realize that you have more experience than us Florida Conchs do, but my husband and I got in the middle of a snow storm the second week of September driving back from north of Denali to Anchorage one year. Florida folks don't need that - we are inexperienced. Spun out two times on icy bridges. Thank goodness we had the rental car people put on snow tires before we left Anchorage.

I am still hanging in there business-wise, even though I now collect Social Security! I'm not enjoying it at all, though. Every appraisal is a huge ordeal and very difficult. You're d....d if you do and d....d if you don't! I also know several long time appraisers that have closed doors - one of my best friends had a degree and went back to school to polish up her credentials and now teaches high school English. She would much rather deal with teenagers than UW's!

 

[Green Hornet]

No doubt this is the last week for me in residential appraisal work. I pulled the plug the first of April, took all the signs off my truck. Started cleaning out my office, storing all my work files in the shop. As of Friday all the phone lines will be dead as the fax line is now. Appraisal web site will change to just livestock/equine, personal property, ag equipment appraisals, next week with new phone number and new email address.

But April has been fair, 3 ERC appraisals, two 2055-1996 Interior, one farm for personal property/ real estate/ livestock, one insurance horse (2 in auto accident), one farm pre-foreclosure. Got a call Friday for a rural REO Farm, but had to turn it down as well. Not enough time to complete it now.

Bid out a bunch, but my fee and turn times were not what the market is, so they went else where for $50 to $150 a pop.

Ray,

Congratulations! This has been a long time coming for you. Best Wishes.

 

[Ray Miller]

Killed our phone and fax lines first of April. Moving out of office end of next month.

Ray, take a look at the Dodge Sprinters, 2006 or older have a 5 cylinder mercedes benz diesel. 25mpg at 75mph. You can get them built out as RV's. Great asphalt runners.

I am going to purchase on autotrader.com and pick it up. I am thinking September/October trip up the Alaskan Highway with a fishing rod and a shotgun. Cheap trip and fun!

These also would make great mobile offices boys and girls.

"...............and the times they are a changin'."

Verne,

Drop me an email address. Our options were Yellowstone, Glacier, Grand Tetons, Great Smokies. I will let you which one we settled for the summer.


Judy,

It snowed every summer on the 4th of July when I worked in Glacier back in the 70's. Doubt it changed.

The wife and I went snow shoeing for the last time this past Saturday, we had about three inches of new snow on the ground. Spring has yet to arrive here, forecasting snow this evening again.

 

[Verne Hebert]

Unusual winter here. It has been snowing a half a foot a day and will til Thursday.

Life is short, do them all, just take your time.

Love to meet ya' in person. Maybe a little fishin and a beverage.

 

[Judy Whitehead (Florida)]

Man - we would love to enjoy the snow on the 4th of July! If it went away real quickly! I was born and raised in Florida, (with a short stint in Philly) and my blood is too thin for year round cold country! We have a niece that has been in Anchorage for 15 years and have visited several times - she is a Florida girl but wouldn't trade Alaska for anything else.

I guess it is all what you get used to. I have sweat pouring into my eyes measuring a house for 7-9 months of the year, rather than frost bitten toes. I am almost the slowest ever for work - 2008 was bad - and this is almost as bad. We are only averaging about 20 or so orders per month and there are three of us. Each order takes so much time and effort it is difficult to do a lot, as they are so complicated. We are in a semi-rural area, as well.

 

[Verne Hebert]

I understand what your are saying. It has changed.

I am working on a referral single family today. The client want a value to list and sell. It is glaringly apparant working on this report, a good old fashion report, the changes that have happened over the past couple of years.

I decide what needs to be in the report to get the job done, and bill accordingly.

I have to laugh about the R & C fees while doing this....................it is hard to remember the old scope of these reports.

Judy, a good gig is working seasonal in the National Parks. For example, working here in Glacier Mid May to Mid Sept............and then maybe a park in the south........maybe the Everglades in the winter..........or not. Maybe of these have lodging available as a part of the job scope, for a fee.

I am looking into heavily for the summer gig year. Medical on the seasonal is not typical, but happens in some cases.

 

[Judy Whitehead (Florida)]

We do know about the seasonal gigs in the parks.....we had a long conversation a few years ago with a real nice lady in Yellowstone. Maybe when the grandsons go on to college where we won't be able to see them play ball as much! (Unless, of course their college is nearby!) Even then, that is usually fall or spring.

Working at a national park would give you the opportunity to really get to know it! We haven't traveled to parks much in the last few years and don't know if it is feasible this year or not. Hope so!

 

[oscar55]

I'm busy declining "low ball quotes". I think the April 1st (fools-day) has made our business even worst. I'm busy looking for non-appraisal work after 23 years.