It is every bit as tough as they say!!!

[Jo Ann Meyer Stratton]

Just a tip for your memory problem. If you have a digital camera, take photos of everything outside and inside and make very detailed sketches in the field to scale on 10 graph paper. You will probably only use 3 photos in the report, maybe only perimeter walls on the clients sketch--but those two things put together will really jog the memory. And provide information for future reference. Take your time at the appointment, that is not the place to save a second or two--it saves time overall. And if you get into the habit early, you will eventually be able to do the detailed sketches quicker than the quick sketch artists!

 

[jenalleman]

I wish all I had to pay for a mortgage was $900/month!!!!!!!

 

[Bill_FL]

I think we all remember that. Does your mentor inspect with you? That can be a big help. The mentor should review your field notes and drawings.

How about the truth here people. In a crunch, what is the most insepctions you have done in one day? Not full appraisals. Just the inspections.

Two of us, riding together, after being snowed in for several days, did 17 single family inspections in one day. We teamed up and each handled different aspects of the inspection process and it went well. We each took notes and compared them. One measured and sketched, the other prepared the field notes, took pictures, etc. Worked out very well.

 

[Claudia Cullen]

Hi Dave,
Welcome to the forum! Please do not give up hope. I agree with the other posters...you do have what it takes to become a GOOD appraiser. Stick with your mentor he's doing his job right!

Yes it takes time and there is a learning curve, but it really won't be long before you find it becoming easier. I'm not suggesting that you'll find appraising to be a bed of roses, but yes it will get better! I know it will because it was not so long ago that I was in your shoes.

Try to develope a routine for yourself.

Fox example, when I receive an order, I do the following:

1. Access whatever online puclic record info I can find, and print copies for my work folder. This includes researching deed informaion.
2. Access my local multiple listing service, looking for info on the subject, sales on the same street, and then similar style sales. Again I print all this info.
3. Put all this research into the folder and then call to set up the inspection.
4. When on site doing my sketch, I always start at the front door and work in a clockwise fashion. I find that I don't accidentally forget something because I was too eratic in my sketching.
5. Take more pictures than really necessary. Afterall, "A picture is worth a thousand words".

You'll find what works for you through time.

My first report did take over 2 weeks, but you should know I was only doing appraising 2 days a week while I worked out a notice someplace else. Once I got into this full time I could do a report in a week, then in 3-5 days. And every month I did get better.

Don't give up! Good luck!

 

[Mike Simpson]

Boy does your post bring back memories!

It took me about a week to complete my first report too...that was about 12 years ago.

Progress in this business can be compared to a rocket taking off from earth. At first all the energy and resources are expended in an attempt to break free of the earth's atmosphere. Eventually, the ship escapes the earth's gravitational pull and finds itself in free orbit...screaming around the globe with little effort.

It's the same in business, especially this one. After a period of time you'll be amazed at how far you've come, and how much you've learned.

I now complete @ least an assignment a day w/very little problem. My best ever? Five (5) inspections in a day (a days prior prep) and 3 assignments completed in 24+ hours. I stayed up all night working into the next morning (I was single w/nothing better to do). That was 9 1/2 years ago & I don't expect to ever be able to accomplish that feat again.

-Mike

 

[Patricia Dominguez]

I am in the same boat right now, and yes I would love a $900/mo mortgage payment. I pay $1,000/mo rent (I wish I owned). Of course you might not be in the bay area where housing is high. Car payments $450 (new 2002 beetle and I had to get all the sunroof and leather seats, I am thinking about refinancing). I am on the poor people diet top ramen or cup of noodles and lots of rice and potatoes. I try to do other things on the side, websites and taxes (1st year also-same story as appraising). Thinking about finishing my degree in Mathematics or changing to Business, and getting some financial aid to take some of the burden off.

But trust me it gets better, I started my first in the begining of January of this year. Oh and my mentor ran the comps for me on the first couple of reports. I worked through January at about 1-2 a week, and in February about 2 per week. Now in March, I am starting to pick up the pace I'm at 3-4/per week. My mentor has me pick 8-12 comps before going out there, and then after seeing the property I should narrow it down to the best. That is the hardest thing for and where I waste time, I go out there and seeing the property makes me want to change even the 8-12 sometimes, like I had one where he had an addition of approx 400sqft with permits in an unincorporated small part of the city, in my original search I used the sqft of the assessors records, so now I had to look at bigger ones, but all my comps where in the corporated area. I had to return to the office with no comp photos do more research and then go back out and drive my comps it was kind of far. I am only getting 25% of fee so to be going back out.

I used to work as an appraisal processor (pulling plat entering data into computer form) so I did know alot before actually appraising. But it's those comps that get me every time, I find myself going back out way too often.

 

[George Hatch]

Patricia,

There's an easy fix for the "surprise" addition. When you're setting appointments to look at the property, it's a good habit to parrot back whatever information you have on the property and ask if the owner knows of any additions, pools, remodels or any other significant upgrades that might affect your comp selection. It doesn't always work (everyone seems to think their garage counts as GLA), but it's better than nothing. I would even go so far as to suggest that you specifically call the owner for a drive-by assignment to ask these questions. Personally, I consider going out twice on the same property to be unprofitable, expecially if it can be avoided.

Another hint might be if you use a laptop and subscribe to one of the data services that uses a monthly CD-ROM distribution, like Axciom or FARS or whataver's available in the Bay area. You could download the CD directly into your hard drive and take your public records data with you where ever you go. Then you'd never get burned (datawise). That works really well, too; it's much faster and uses less battery power than accessing the data through a CD-drive. Just a thought.


George Hatch

 

[wyecoyote]

David,

It takes time. Took me about a 1 year to 1 1/2 years before actually making money at appraising just paying the basic bills. Although the thought process picks up over time it takes that time before it starts to click in your head. When I first started it did take several days to do an appraisal report. But now yes I can complete one a day perhaps even two if they are in a Urban enviroment.

As far as AVM's go and some saying that we residential appraisers will be gone. IMHO our profesion will change over time but not go the way side. The tough part is seeing in what way we will change as a profesion.

Patricia,

I have to agree with George on this. Make yourself a cheat sheet list of questions to ask homeowners on the phone. Like George said Parrot back the improvments bedrooms, bathrooms, GLA, basements, garages, views, any remodeling, updating, type of floor covering, roof covering, interior walls, siding, etc.. This helps out in the future. Just today I was setting an appointment up and asked about the GLA, homeowner stated they just completed an addition to the house 500 sf. Completely remodeled the house added a bathroom and other items. The phone interview of the HO saves me a trip out for comps again.

Ryan

 

[DavidBrown]

Hi everyone!

Well, last week was tough, but it ended with a positive note. I just about got two Appraisals completed! Unfortunately, my mentor had to head out of town on Friday, so they will need to be reviewed. But, I think both will be done Monday or Tuesday! This is a big improvement for me. The bad news is that I was awaiting some information on the first Appraisal from a Broker, so I did not get the work finished until Friday, which meant no money for me last week. I am kind of bummed about that, but feel good about the fact that both probably would have been done if my mentor did not have business out of town on Friday.

I am actually very psyched at the moment!


Dave

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

:allcolors: :jumping:

Congratulations!!!!