Looking For The Mentor's Perspective

[Jonathan_Beni]

Hello Folks,

As an outsider looking in trying to decide whether or not to start the long course on route to becoming an appraiser, saying that I found some of the information here discouraging would be the understatement of the year. Nevertheless, the research goes on (for now) and I would like to ask you seasoned appraisers a couple of questions.

From my reading here, I understand that most of you are reluctant to take on trainees and quite frankly I can understand why. However, after all said and done, some (most?) do become mentors and I was wondering what your deciding factors were.

Is this decision related to a specific candidate or do you decide that you want a trainee and then look for a suitable one?

What would be some of the essential characteristics you would be looking for in a candidate?

Would you even consider a trainee who has not yet acquired his/her trainee license?

Would you consider prior acquaintance with the trainee essential?

Is the candidate’s age a deciding factor? (Looking for an honest answer here, not the politically correct one… )

For the record, I am intentionally not providing any information about myself, my background and the reasons why I am considering becoming an appraiser, because I would not want these to factor into your reply.

Thank you very much!

Jonathan Beni

 

[Michigander]

Jonathan,

As someone who works by myself, and works on appraisals where quality really does matter, I would not hire anyone, period. Now, if I were a supervisor responsible for hiring appraisers (specifically trainees), I would look for the following traits (not in any particular order):

intelligence
willingness to listen and to learn
someone who is well spoken, and can communicate both verbally and on paper
someone who will stay after the training is complete and become a member of a team instaed of breaking off to go on their own
a sense of humor and a quick smile
someone with a back ground in real estate, or a background in engineering (attention to detail for the latter, and market knowledge for the former)
already have some AI classes under their belt
someone with a strong sense of right and wrong
someone who is not looking to make a quick buck, and is realistic about incomes in this business (make more in most professions)

I would stay away from:

someone who expressed desire to get their experience and go on their own
someone who is combative and argumentative
someone who does not speak properly or has poor writing skills
someone who took their appraisal classes from anyplace other than the AI (it's a quality of education issue)
someone who shows a lack of ethics, or seems more interested in pay and how many appraisals they can produce

Notice two things; I was not concerned about age, and I am not concerned about formal education. If someone was intelligent and presented themselves properly, and spoke the Queen's English, then I would consider them (if I were in a position of hiring folks). There are plenty of highly educated individuals who did not take the University route, and there are plenty of younger and older people who have what it takes to be competent and sucessfull in this business.

Hope this helps. Again, it comes from someone who does not hire or train....

 

[Jonathan_Beni]

Rachel,

Thank you for your prompt reply - Much appreciated!

Would love to hear some more opinions.

Thanks,

Jonathan

 

[Tom Foster]

Remember, appraisers are individualistic characters who have a full range of human emotions. Many of their acts are legible only as behaviors that are embedded in their mind.

These traits include greed, racism, selfishness, machismo and sympathy. All these traits govern the group-mind appraiser, even if he or she is malfunctioning.

This does not prevent us appraisers from feeling momentary sympathy from time to time. Sympathy, in fact, is necessary trait if we are to keep our sanity.

It is often these gestures and expressions that are used in the drama of finding a mentor.


Tom

 

[CANative]

We have yet to experience a profitable or otherwise satisfactory arrangement when taking on a trainee.

The only thing that would sway me at this point is to find someone who has additional skills that would enhance my business... computer repair, computer networking, bookkeeping or a/p & a/r, business management. Some sort of cross training that would compensate for the time, trouble and expense of training a new person which is very time consuming and increases my already high stress level.

I would gladly spend an extra 10-12 hours a week with a new person who could also fix my network or tell me why my network printer suddenly doesn't recognize it's IP number.

 

[Jonathan_Beni]

It is often these gestures and expressions that are used in the drama of finding a mentor.

In other words to beg, Tom?

I would gladly spend an extra 10-12 hours a week with a new person who could also fix my network or tell me why my network printer suddenly doesn't recognize it's IP number.

Now THAT I can do, Greg!
Unfortunately, I just moved from CA to MA... :lol:

Jonathan

 

[wyecoyote]

Rachel,

Suprised at you for not talking about a formal education. With the upcoming changes in 2008 slated by the ASB I would say looking for someone who allready has a 2 year or close to their 2 year college degree would also have to be weighted. Since a 2 year degree will be mandatory for certification likewise a commercial firm should be considering canidates with a 4 year degree or near 4 year degree.

That being said. I personally do not have a college degree nor would I really care if someone had a college level degree. That would be something I would have to talk about when they were considering hiring on.

Looking over the resume would be considered since that should demonstrate their writing style. The interview would demonstrate their ability to communicate verbally. I would also not look for someone that rubbed me the wrong way in an interview. Since they would end up having to spend considerably time with me over the course of the next 2+ years. Additionaly having the looked into the proffession and realized that they will not make a tremendous amout of money for the first few years would also be a consideration. Having said all that the additional understanding that they do not know everything just cause they took some classes.

Though I am not looking to take on a trainiee or in the future take on a trainiee. I consider first the people that I allready knew.

Age to me would not be a large factor. Since my understanding a tremendous amount get into the proffession after their 40's anyway. I remember taking my basics classess through the AI and being the youngest person in the class that time I was 24 most were in their 40's to 60's and were getting into the appraisal proffession and changing proffessions mid stream.

I have meet some appraisers like myself who got into appraising in their 20's and even one lady who started in her teens (both parents were appraisers). But those of us who start out young seem to be the exception (IMHO) rather than the norm.

Persistance would also be a trait to consider. Do not just call, email, or fax your resume and not follow up. Keep going back check in find a reason to stop by. Also consider getting some of the free downloads for appraisal software. Attempet to fill out a demonstration report. Even if it is wrong at least you show that you are willing to try. You have to set yourself apart from the other trainiees out there.

 

[Restrain]

The ONLY trainees I accept are family. I don't want to deal with an outsider.

As to others: I don't want to deal with someone who has retired as VP of WXY Corp and "looking for something to keep me busy". I don't want retired military. I want someone that can think, not look for a 2' thick book of rules that have the answer. I don't want some super-achiever who thinks this is a get-rich quick operation and wants to go out on their own ASAP, even with only a trainees license. I don't want someone that doesn't know beans about what they're getting into, because I don't want to waste 4-6 months of my time to see them leave for WXY Corp.

Finally, if I was looking for an outsider, I would want someone who knows what appraising is, beyond the required USPAP and beginning class. I would want someone who knows about real estate and how it works. Finally, I would want someone who wasn't afraid to listen. After 30+ years, I'm still learning. The trainee shouldn't think they know everything after 6 months.

 

[Jonathan_Beni]

Boy, you guys are a tough bunch...
Quite frankly from some of the responses it sounds as if you are personally offended that someone would dare want to become an appraiser... And some of the responses are simply offensive.

No, I didn't start my research because I'm "looking for something to keep me busy".
I didn't start this research because I think it's a "get rich quick operation" - I know it's not.
And I didn't start it because I think it's a 'cool' occupation.

I did start this research because I believe that this profession fits my personality, background and career motivations and I started it because I believe that I would make an excellent appraiser.

Please don't categorize and stereotype all 'wannabees' as ignorant and/or malicious. It's simply not the case.

By the way, I don't know what the practice is but maybe mentors and trainees should enter into contractual agreements prior to starting the training process to ensure that some of your concerns are addressed. I know that I for one would be willing to enter into such an agreement if and when I found a suitable trainer.

Jonathan

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

It's not personal Jonathan.

During the past few years, and VERY heavily during these past 2 years, the so called appraisal schools have been hyping the unrealistic rewards and ease and pumping out trainees much faster than needed.

Many of these trainees are then 'trained' by unethical sweatshop type supervisors. Appraisal fraud or just plain incompetence is now absolutely rampant. You are trying to get into a job where the good mentors are very skeptical right now and many have been 'burned' already. A position with a good mentor/supervisor is very hard to come by and almost all Certified Appraisers are constantly contacted by wannabes. I just received another resume; this one already took the initial class and is all excited about how much business he can bring in from his wife's mortgage brokerage. He's just one more of many examples of someone trying to get into appraising with unethical motives.

If you really want to do this, you will find a way to make it happen and as long as you want to learn and do it right, we will welcome you.

It's not personal Jonathan.