King's English

[Leanne J.]

It appears to me that the suggestion by an appraiser that we, as appraisers, put our collective "best foot" forward when we're in public is just good common sense.

 

[Steven Bonner]

I thought some on this thread would appreciate these few examples of the topic, taken from the forum. Some likely will not. All enjoy.

another words = in other words

hypothetical assumptions = a cross between hypothetical conditions and extraordinary assumptions ?

would be lossed for words = or lost?

lawyers do not know nothing about = they do know about?

Nothing can`t happen = everything can happen?

I do not think AVM`s will never last though! = I do think they will last?

What do you got?

perfict comps

is acceptable and meaningless

I do not think the government do not lawsuits, in accurate value projections from AVM, or a very well unsupported drive-by

Any lender using an AVMs should…

Success is equilavent to many things

Hope homeowners suit your butts off--

appropiate to are needs

but has came together

As for as I know

seemed to be getting worst and worst

I have not had time to work on a thing accepted appraisals.

I stand commented to do something

Show the weaknest of this request

Wanted it in hear.

we use do do a lot of work

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

I find it humourous when somebody butcher's the english language. It restores my faith in the human race. After all, none of us are perfect and there is no better reminder. Double negatives are my favorites. I live in the land "I ain't got no... " and "he don't never get it right".

 

[Austin]

Somebody told a story in an above post about an appraiser-country auctioneer she met at an appraisal class who used terrible grammar. For 17 years I was a real estate auctioneer in rural Virginia. I believe that 60% of the people in this area have less than a high school education. When you deal with people, you have to do it on their level, not your level. They find it offensive for some college boy to restate what they just said correctly, so I learned to speak the vernacular. I remember an auction sale once that one of our woman sale agents attended. She chided me for my terrible grammar. I was selling a tobacco farm and farm machinery. When you are in Rome, do as the Romans do! When you are posting on this board, you don’t know the level of the reader and thus write in your normal vernacular, which may explain some of the problem.
Another example of language: In high school I had a year of Spanish and used the language on the ham radio to some extent. I knew better Spanish grammar than I did English grammar. Then I went into the army and learned some Japanese. After a couple years not hearing either Japanese or Spanish I became so confused I couldn’t think straight. I was confusing the two languages. I would tell South Americans “domadigato (thank you) and the Japanese “gracias (thank you.) So my excuse is that in my lifetime, I have had to rely on five languages: English standard; English vernacular regionalized, Ebonics (Say What?), Japanese, and Spanish. What is your excuse?

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

Vernacular? I am sorry, but every time I hear that word I think of a Three Stooges episode. Curly was great in that episode. That should tell you my level of education. All kidding aside, you will find different levels of use of the english language in different areas of the country. Yes, appraisers should mind their P's & Q's in their appraisal reports, but how often does grammar affect value? I thought it was generally recognized that underwriters did not read the reports anyway.

 

[xmrdfghap]

<span style='color:brown'>What astounds me is that we are in the business of communicating and here we are debating the validity of grammar, spelling, and sentence structure as though these are optional. Having done numerous reviews I have always assumed that if the writer is incoherent and/or sloppy in their writing, that their analysis will be equally sloppy, and I look for errors and flawed analysis. This assumption may be totally erroneous, but having to read through some of these reports and then try to figure out what the writer is trying to say is absurd.

The art of appraising occurs in two concurrent areas. the first is the ability to arrive at a reasonably accurate value for the purposes stated in the appraisal order, and the second is communicating that value in a meaningful fashion to the client. The USPAP is built around two principles: The first is ethics, and the second is communication. Both are essential. Neither should be ignored. Failure to abide by both principles can lead to financial disaster for the client. At what point does either become irrelevant?

One of my favorite stories concerns the elderly gentleman and the elderly lady who, after several months of sharing the activities in their Sun City condo with each other, are discussing the possibility of marriage. He explains his financial situation. She describes hers. Both like the others situation so he asks her, "Ruth, then it's settled? We will get married?" At which time she thinks, and then says to him "One thing we haven't discussed. What about sex." He, after thinking a moment replies "Infrequently." To which she responds "Is that one word or two?"

The point being, when you communicate the value of an asset in ANY report format, or you explain the basis for that value assumption, or you describe conditions, assumptions, datum, or anything else relevant to the decision making process being used by the client, you had better be accurate.....both in your assumptions, and in your communication.

Perhaps a forum such as this is not the place to emphasize articulateness, but when is it acceptable to mis-communicate? At what point does sloppiness in everyday or casual life merge with sloppiness in your (so called) professional life? In my opinion, considering our job is to communicate, accuracy is mandatory. Fragmented and incomplete sentences indicate fragmented and incomplete thoughts. If you don't know what your are saying, why should I bother to try to decipher it? This applies to the reports we write and to the discussions we have. If you can't bother writing it properly, why should anyone bother to read it?</span>

 

[Theresa in Oregon]

Goodpasture:

Bravo! I have nothing to add to your excellent argument.

 

[David S. Roberson]

My cinnamons exactly.

 

[David Mullen]

Goodpasture

Well said.

I have been astounded too but for a different reason. It is hard to imagine the number of people in this forum saying that sloppy writing and poor spelling are acceptable. They must think that if you say it enough, it will be true.

The truth is that we are judged on many things and these carry a lot of weight in our business. I too used to do a lot of review work and it was like a slap in the face when the writers of the reports could not even communicate their thoughts. I finally had to quit doing review work because it was too upsetting to see the general quality of reports sent out for review. I hope that those were only examples of the worst the lenders had to offer but who knows.

Someone raised and educated in this country has no excuse and they present the image of being illiterate. Few people would put much faith in such a person regardless how smart or competent when their money is at risk either as a lender or buyer.

Appraisers defending poor spelling and grammar must remember that we are all judged by the actions of a few and the ones that are most remembered by the readers are the worst reports.

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

I am not defending poor spelling and grammar in reports. I am saying that has nothing to do with the way some have posted on this forum. I am not defending poor grammar. I think it destroys the credibility of an appraisal report. I must clearly state, however, that I have seen some some pretty bad reports where the grammar and spelling was impeccable, but the content was clearly the problem. I do have a problem with certain personalities on this forum, dismissing others who post on this forum because of spelling and grammar errors. Belittling others is the lowest form of immaturity and quite unprofessional. I seriously doubt anybody here is beyond reproach and has never made a mistake in a report or posting on this forum. I rarely proofread my post or spellcheck. I notice some transfer from microsoft word, when it is just as easy to type it here and will not convert errors in the text. Big deal. Criticize people for what they do in their reports. Their reports should be graded, give them a break here. I am off my soapbox, now.