Isn't this an ERC rule?

[Doug in NC]

I paged through the ERC manual the other day, but I couldn' t find anything on this:

I drove up to do an ERC inspection the other day, and to my surprise another appraiser was there before me. I walked up to him and asked if he was finishing up, I said I would go take some comp photos while he finished. He said, "No, I just got here too. The homeowner wanted to get this out of the way quickly, so she asked us both to be here at the same time". The other appraiser had agreed to the arrangement, but I told him and the homeowner that this was against ERC policy. The other appraiser asks me, "Is this some kind of a USPAP rule or something".

Other ERC appraisers have told me this "one appraiser at a time policy" before as well. I know I have read this somewhere, but I haven't been able to track it down. Does anyone know where I can find this info?

 

[jtrotta]

Doug,
Can't remember exactly where or when it was passed along, as we have been doing them for over 15 years. It also may be found in the individual company policy; and my opinion is, I think it's common/professional courtesy.

Don't know if that helps you :roll:


Good Luck 8)

 

[Jo Ann Meyer Stratton]

I can't find it in the manual either. However I took a relocation class two weeks ago, Jay Delich was the instructor and is one of the authors of both the old and new manual. He stressed that information in the class. Appraisers should not be at the property at the same time, if the home owner schedules them too close together, the second appraiser should leave--not even talking to the first appraiser as they pass on the sidewalk. Call the home owner and reschedule.

 

[Steve Owen]

I can't help with your question concerning the manual. However, I can tell you that in every single ERC I have ever done, the rule that you should leave immediately in this situation has been stipulated by the client right along with the order. The entire process is based in the relocation company getting two completely independent appraisals. The request by the home owner and the willingness of the other appraiser to honor it seems ludicrous to me.

 

[Farm Gal]

I have actually never seen this 'rule' in writing, EXCEPT perhaps in the Appraisal Institute ERC class I took some 4 years ago. ..
I cannot locate the documentation in a quick flip through the class manual, but it IS prominantly located in my notes (found that), and my memory...

The rationale stressed in the class was that there should be no influence on arriving at a value conclusion, and one should not even be aware of which other appraiser(s) might be performing the other opinion. I recall being told to 'not speak to and immediately leave the site'.

I also seem to recall a strong suggestion that the client be contacted with the situation and that the appraiser should get permission to continue.

While I concurr that leaving immediately is the correct procedure, the final suggestion probably falls under 'CYA squared'... that is to say 'optional on the part of the second appraiser' but not required.

Homeowner was out of line or didn't understand process.

 

[Joe Birrell (NY)]

I think it's relo company policy and it's found either in the printed instructions to the property owner and/or the assignment sheet instructions to the appraiser (depends on relo company being used).

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

I concur with your concurance! They don't want two appraisers comparing notes.